title: Preliminary comparison of four anaesthetic techniques in badgers (Meles meles).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the use of four ketamine-based anaesthetic combinations in wild badgers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four adult badgers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were divided into four groups of six and were anaesthetized using either intramuscular (IM) ketamine alone (20 mg kg(-1)), ketamine (15 mg kg(-1) IM) and midazolam (0.4 mg kg(-1) IM), ketamine (10 mg kg(-1) IM) and midazolam (1 mg kg(-1) IM) or ketamine (5 mg kg(-1) IM) and medetomidine (80 microg kg(-1) IM) antagonized with atipamezole (0.8 mg kg(-1); IM). Features of each technique, i.e. quality of induction, maintenance and recovery, and the need for additional doses, were assessed using a simple descriptive scale. Physiological variables, i.e. rectal temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure, were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combinations of ketamine and midazolam did not produce adequate anaesthesia. The combination of medetomidine and ketamine had few advantages over ketamine alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data will contribute to a wider study attempting to refine anaesthetic techniques in badgers.
authors.affiliation: Oxford University Veterinary Services, Oxford, UK. peter.thronton@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Christine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Buesching
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: Dominic D P
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Macdonald
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D045969:Mustelidae / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000700:Analgesics; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine; D008874:Midazolam