title: Use of medetomidine-ketamine and atipamezole for reversible immobilization of free-ranging hog deer (Axis porcinus) captured in drive nets.
abstract: A combination of 0.05 mg/kg medetomidine and 1.5 mg/kg ketamine was used to immobilize nine adult free-ranging hog deer (Axis porcinus) captured in drive nets in the Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal, 22-23 February 2000. The drugs were administered intramuscularly from separate syringes and the mean time (+/-SD) to complete immobilization was 4.6+/-1.0 min. Muscle relaxation was good and no major clinical side effects were seen. Mean values for physiologic parameters, recorded at 10-12 and 18-20 min after drug administration, were 40.6+/-0.5 and 41.1+/-0.6 C, 87+/-5 and 84+/-4%, 107+/-16 and 113+/-16 beats/ min, and 46+/-9 and 40+/-8 breaths/min for rectal temperature, SpO2, pulse rate, and respiratory rate, respectively. All animals received 0.25 mg/ kg atipamezole intramuscularly 20-22 min after administration of medetomidine-ketamine and the mean time to coordinated running was 4.8+/-0.8 min. All animals survived for at least 5 mo post-capture. To reduce stress and to facilitate handling, medetomidine-ketamine and atipamezole are recommended for reversible immobilization of free-ranging hog deer captured in drive nets.
authors.affiliation: Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, NO-9292 Tromsø, Norway. jmarnemo@online.no
authors.forename: Jon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arnemo
authors.forename: Torstein
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Storaas
authors.forename: Chitra B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Khadka
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wegge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine