High rectal temperature indicates an increased risk of unexpected recovery in anaesthetized badgers.
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.
McLaren
Graeme W
GW
Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. graeme.mclaren@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Thornton
Peter D
PD
Newman
Chris
C
Buesching
Christina D
CD
Baker
Sandra E
SE
Mathews
Fiona
F
Macdonald
David W
DW
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
D000700:Analgesics; D007649:Ketamine; D002077:Butorphanol