Medetomidine-ketamine in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus): effective immobilization by hand- and dart-administered injection.
Twelve reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) were immobilized by hand injection in indoor stalls with established optimal hand-injection doses of medetomidine-ketamine and then moved to outside paddocks where they were immobilized again with the same dose by dart. The reindeer in paddocks were immobilized a second time with a 50% higher dose, hereafter referred to as the optimal darting dose. Mean time to first sign of sedation was longer and mean induction time was significantly longer (55% and 79%, respectively) when the optimal hand-injection dose was dart injected versus hand injected. Mean time to first sign of sedation was not significantly shorter (although 21% shorter, numerically) but mean induction time was significantly shorter (30%) when animals were darted with the optimal darting dose versus darted with the optimal hand-injection dose. There were no significant differences in respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and relative arterial oxygen saturation in animals injected with different doses and by different routes. but there was a significantly lower heart rate in animals dart injected with the optimal darting dose versus dart injected with the optimal hand-injection dose. All animals responded at similar rates to atipamezole injection.
Ryeng
Kathrine A
KA
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, NO-9292 Tromsø, Norway.
Larsen
Stig
S
Arnemo
Jon M
JM
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007103:Immobilization; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012053:Reindeer / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine