Clinical evaluation of established optimal immobilizing doses of medetomidine-ketamine in captive reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clinical effects and repeatability of clinical effects for an optimal immobilizing dose of a combination of medetomidine hydrochloride (MED) and ketamine hydrochloride (KET) in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus).


METHODS
12 healthy 6- to 8-month old reindeer.


METHODS
Each reindeer was immobilized once with an initial dose (combination of 0.06 mg of MED/kg of body weight and 0.3 mg KET/kg) and twice with an optimal dose of MED-KET. Reversal was achieved with 5 mg of atipamezole/mg of MED injected 45 minutes after MED-KET administration. Observational variables were recorded. Oxygen saturation of arterial hemoglobin measured by pulse oximetry (Spo2), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and rectal temperature (RT) were recorded 10, 25, and 40 minutes after immobilization.


RESULTS
Mean time to first sign of sedation and time until a recumbent animal lifted its head were significantly reduced for reindeer given the optimal dose, compared with the initial dose. Mean Spo2 remained > 90% during initial immobilization; this value was significantly lower for the optimal dose, but increased during immobilization from 85 to 89%. At all doses, RR increased significantly throughout the recorded period; however, RT and HR were constant. Except for time until reindeer stood, all time variables, Spo2, RR, RT, and HR were repeatable.


CONCLUSIONS
mmobilization of captive reindeer achieved by use of the optimal dose established here is clinically acceptable, although Spo2 should be carefully monitored. Administration of the optimal dose produced the same clinical effect during repeated immobilization of the same reindeer.
Department of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Tromsø.
K A
KA
Ryeng
S
S
Larsen
B
B
Ranheim
G
G
Albertsen
J M
JM
Arnemo
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007103:Immobilization; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010092:Oximetry / Q000662:veterinary; D012053:Reindeer / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine