title: Field immobilization of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) for minor surgical procedures.
abstract: A combination of ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride at doses of 50 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, respectively, was used to immobilize 48 muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) from October 1993 to November 1994 in Tennessee (USA). Mean (+/-SD) time for induction was 2.97 +/- 1.1 min. After a mean (+/-SD) duration of 27.2 +/- 3.5 min intramuscular yohimbine hydrochloride at a dose of 0.125 mg/kg was administered. Mean (+/-SD) recovery time was 48.1 +/- 21.6 min. All anesthetic inductions were smooth and sufficient depth of anesthesia was achieved to allow surgical collection of adipose tissue. Recovery times were more variable than expected. There was a significant (P < or = 0.05) drop in heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature during anesthesia. One animal died during recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville 37901-1071, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sleeman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramsay
mesh_terms: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007103:Immobilization; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000662:veterinary; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013565:Sympatholytics; D014991:Xylazine; D015016:Yohimbine; D007649:Ketamine