Chemical restraint of African lions (Panthera leo) with medetomidine-ketamine.
Effects of a combination of medetomidine-ketamine as a chemical restraint and antagonistic effects of atipamezole on this combination were investigated in 5 lions. The medetomidine (47.6-58.4 micrograms/kg) and ketamine (1.9-5.7 mg/kg) combination provided complete immobilization with good analgesia and muscle relaxation in 4 lions, while one lioness was poorly sedated by medetomidine, and additional injections of medetomidine and ketamine were required. The duration of anesthesia seemed to be much longer than one hour in 4 of the lions. Atipamezole, at four times the preceding dose of medetomidine, provided a smooth recovery and animals were able to stand up 17-61 min after its injection. Side effects were limited to vomiting after walking in 3 of 5 lions.
Tomizawa
N
N
Department of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Japan.
Tsujimoto
T
T
Itoh
K
K
Ogino
T
T
Nakamura
K
K
Hara
S
S
D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D007103:Immobilization; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D008045:Lions / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine