Chemical immobilization and anesthesia of free-living aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) with ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam and isoflurane

dc.contributor.authorRey, Benjamin
dc.contributor.authorCostello, Mary-Ann
dc.contributor.authorFuller, Andrea
dc.contributor.authorHaw, Anna
dc.contributor.authorHetem, Robyn S.
dc.contributor.authorMitchell, Duncan
dc.contributor.authorMeyer, Leith Carl Rodney
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-17T10:53:51Z
dc.date.available2015-02-17T10:53:51Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractWe evaluated the effectiveness of a ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam drug combination administered intramuscularly by remote injection followed by isoflurane anesthesia in free-living aardvarks (Orycteropus afer). Seven aardvarks weighing 33–45 kg were immobilized to perform surgical implantation of temperature loggers using 3.8 mg/kg ketamine, 0.1 mg/kg medetomidine, and 0.25 mg/kg midazolam. Immobilized aardvarks were transported to a surgical theater and received 0.5–1% isoflurane in oxygen after tracheal intubation. After surgery, medetomidine was antagonized with 0.5 mg/kg atipamezole, and aardvarks were released at the site of capture. We recorded induction and recovery times, clinical and physiologic parameters, and conducted blood gas analyses before and during isoflurane administration. Aardvarks showed initial effects within 3 min and reached lateral recumbency within 7 min after drug administration. Heart rate (50–67 beats/min), respiratory rate (10–15 breaths/min), oxygen hemoglobin saturation (SaO2; 90–97%), and rectal temperature (34.0–37.5 C) were within acceptable physiologic ranges. Mean arterial blood pressure was initially high (146±12 mmHg), but the hypertension resolved over time. Rectal temperature dropped significantly during anesthesia. Four animals had to be treated to relieve apnea. Blood gas analyses revealed mild to moderate hypercapnia but no hypoxaemia. The ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam combination provided effective immobilization. Combined with a low concentration of isoflurane, it can be used for prolonged surgical procedures in wild aardvarks. However, caution is needed, and monitoring of clinical parameters is required.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianhb2015en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipClaude Leon Foundation, the University of the Witwatersrand and the South African National Research Foundation.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.jwildlifedis.org/en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationRey, B, Costello, M-A, Fuller, A, Haw, A, Hetem, RS, Mitchell, D & Meyer, LCR 2014, 'Chemical immobilization and anesthesia of free-living aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) with ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam and isoflurane', Journal of Wildlife Diseases, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 864-872.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0090-3558 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1943-3700 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.7589/2013-07-166
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/43697
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherWildlife Disease Associationen_ZA
dc.rights© Wildlife Disease Association 2014en_ZA
dc.subjectVeterinary anesthesiaen_ZA
dc.subjectRemote injectionen_ZA
dc.subjectChemical immobilizationen_ZA
dc.subjectCardiovascularen_ZA
dc.subjectRespiratory monitoringen_ZA
dc.subjectAardvarken_ZA
dc.subjectBody temperature monitoring
dc.subjectOrycteropus afer
dc.titleChemical immobilization and anesthesia of free-living aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) with ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam and isofluraneen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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