Response of wild subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) females to ketamine and tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia.
This study is the first to compare the anesthetic effects of two cyclohexamines on free-ranging subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) females. From April to July 1999, 107 females were immobilized for tooth extraction and blood sampling, using either ketamine (Ketalar, n = 58) alone or tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil 100, n = 49) mixture. Animals were injected intramuscularly at mean doses of 2.1 mg/kg for ketamine and 1.1 mg/kg for tiletamine-zolazepam mixture. Individual response to both drugs was highly variable. The dosage required to achieve a satisfactory level of anesthesia was smaller for subantarctic fur seals than for most other species of seals and was less for animals in better body condition. Few side effects were observed during the trials, aside from mild tremors caused by ketamine, and respiratory depression or prolonged apnea caused by tiletamine-zolazepam. We recommend use of ketamine, especially by those with little experience in anesthesia of fur seals. However, precautionary measures should be taken, such as using low doses for animals in good body condition and being prepared for anesthetic emergencies to avoid any casualties.
Dabin
Willy
W
Centre de Recherche sur les Mammifères Marins, Av. Lazaret, Port des Minimes, 17 000 La Rochelle, France. WD-CRMM@iFRANCE.COM
Beauplet
Gwénaël
G
Guinet
Christophe
C
D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D046069:Fur Seals / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007103:Immobilization; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013992:Tiletamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000662:veterinary; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D015041:Zolazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D013992:Tiletamine; D007649:Ketamine; D015041:Zolazepam