title: High rectal temperature indicates an increased risk of unexpected recovery in anaesthetized badgers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with sudden early recovery (SER) from anaesthesia in badgers (Meles meles).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three adult wild badgers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were randomly assigned to receive one of four anaesthetics based on medetomidine (M) ketamine (K) and butorphanol (B) combined in different ratios: (i) MKB 20:40:80 microg kg(-1); (ii) MKB 20:40:60 microg kg(-1); (iii) MKB 20:60:40 microg kg(-1); and (iv) ketamine alone 0.2 mg kg(-1). For each animal, induction time was measured and physiological variables (heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature) were recorded at 5-minute intervals during anaesthesia. Cases of SER were recorded and binary logistic regression applied to identify predictive factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen animals (15%) exhibited SER. Rectal temperature was the only variable that was a significant predictor of SER. Animals showing SER had significantly higher rectal temperatures which, in contrast to other cases, did not fall during the first 10 minutes of anaesthesia, which was when most SERs occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that (i) rectal temperature is closely monitored during wild badger anaesthesia and (ii) that animals with higher than expected temperatures are treated with additional caution.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. graeme.mclaren@zoo.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Graeme W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: McLaren
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Christina D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Buesching
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Macdonald
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045969:Mustelidae / Q000502:physiology*; D012007:Rectum; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D007649:Ketamine; D002077:Butorphanol