Anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine in cheetahs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of an intramuscular injection of a tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine combination in cheetahs.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
17 adult captive cheetahs.


METHODS
The anesthetic combination was administered intramuscularly via a dart. Induction quality, duration of lateral recumbency, duration of recovery, and quality of anesthetic reversal with atipamezole were assessed. Cardiorespiratory variables (arterial blood gas partial pressures, arterial blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates, end-tidal CO2, oxygen saturation, and rectal temperature) were measured during anesthesia.


RESULTS
Sedation and lateral recumbency developed within 1.9 +/- 1.0 (mean +/- SD) and 4.3 +/- 2.0 minutes of drug administration, respectively. Clinically acceptable cardiorespiratory and blood gas values were recorded for at least 87 minutes after drug administration in all but 1 cheetah. Hypoxemia and arrhythmias developed in 1 cheetah breathing room air but resolved after treatment with oxygen. Hypertension developed in all cheetahs. Significant differences in heart and respiratory rates, mean arterial blood pressure, arterial pH, partial pressure of oxygen, and hemoglobin saturation were found between cheetahs that did and did not receive oxygen supplementation. After administration of atipamezole, sternal recumbency and mobility returned within 6.9 +/- 5.8 and 47.5 +/- 102.2 minutes, respectively. Postreversal sedation, which lasted approximately 4 hours, developed in 4 cheetahs.


CONCLUSIONS
Tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine delivered via a dart provided an alternative method for induction and maintenance of anesthesia in cheetahs. Atipamezole at the dose used was effective for reversal of this combination in the initial phase of anesthesia.
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
S L
SL
Deem
J C
JC
Ko
S B
SB
Citino
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000187:drug effects; D002612:Acinonyx / Q000502:physiology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013992:Tiletamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015041:Zolazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D013992:Tiletamine; D015041:Zolazepam; D020926:Medetomidine; D010100:Oxygen