Immobilization of California sea lions using medetomidine plus ketamine with and without isoflurane and reversal with atipamezole.
The use of medetomidine and ketamine, alone and in combination with isoflurane, with atipamezole reversal was evaluated for immobilizing 51 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) for a variety of medical procedures at a rehabilitation center in northern California (USA) between May 1997 and August 1998. Animals were given 140 microg/kg medetomidine with 2.5 mg/kg ketamine intramuscularly. Mean (+/-SD) time to maximal effect was 8+/-5 min. At the end of the procedure, animals were given 200 microg/kg atipamezole intramuscularly. Immobilization and recovery times were, respectively, 25+/-12 and 9+/-7 min for 35 animals maintained with medetomidine and ketamine alone and 58+/-30 and 9+/-9 min for 16 animals intubated and maintained with isoflurane. No mortalities occurred as a result of the immobilizations. Disadvantages of the medetomidine and ketamine combination included a moderate variation in time to maximal effect and plane of sedation, a large injection volume and high cost. However, this combination offers safe and reversible immobilization that can be easily administered by the intramuscular route and that produces a plane of anesthesia that is sufficient to carry out most routine diagnostic procedures.
Haulena
M
M
The Marine Mammal Center, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, California 94965, USA. mhaulena@ix.netcom.com
Gulland
F M
FM
Calkins
D G
DG
Spraker
T R
TR
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000777:Anesthetics; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007103:Immobilization; D007530:Isoflurane; D007649:Ketamine; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D046070:Sea Lions / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000777:Anesthetics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D007649:Ketamine; D007530:Isoflurane; D020926:Medetomidine