Evaluation of the anaesthetic effects of combinations of ketamine, medetomidine, romifidine and butorphanol in European badgers (Meles meles).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of three anaesthetic combinations in adult European badgers (Meles meles).


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, blinded, experimental trial.


METHODS
Sixteen captive adult badgers.


METHODS
The badgers were each anaesthetized by intramuscular injection using the three techniques assigned in random order: romifidine 0.18 mg kg(-1), ketamine 10 mg kg(-1) and butorphanol 0.1 mg kg(-1) (RKB); medetomidine 0.1 mg kg(-1), ketamine 9 mg kg(-1) and butorphanol 0.1 mg kg(-1) (MKB); and medetomidine 0.1 mg kg(-1) and ketamine 10 mg kg(-1) (MK). Initial drug doses were calculated based on a body mass of 10 kg. Additional anaesthetic requirements, time to drug effect, duration of action and recovery from anaesthesia were recorded. Heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate and rhythm, rectal and subcutaneous microchip temperature and oxygen saturation were recorded every 5 minutes. Depth of anaesthesia was assessed using: muscle tone; palpebral and pedal reflexes; and tongue relaxation at these time points. Blood samples and a tracheal aspirate were obtained under anaesthesia. Atipamezole was administered if the badger had not recovered within 60 minutes Parametric data were analysed using anova for repeated measures, and nonparametric data using Friedman's, and Cochran's Q tests: p < 0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
All combinations produced good or excellent muscle relaxation throughout the anaesthetic period. RKB had the shortest duration of anaesthesia (16.8 minutes compared with MKB 25.9 minutes and MK 25.5 minutes) and antagonism was not required. RKB depressed respiratory rate less than MK and MKB. There was no significant difference between techniques for heart rate and rhythm.


CONCLUSIONS
All combinations provided anaesthetic conditions suitable for sampling and identification procedures in adult badgers. The RKB protocol provided a significantly shorter period of anaesthesia when compared with the combinations containing medetomidine.
Davison
Kathryn E
KE
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Hughes
J M Lynne
JM
Gormley
Eamonn
E
Lesellier
Sandrine
S
Costello
Eamon
E
Corner
Leigh A L
LA
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D045969:Mustelidae / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects
D000777:Anesthetics; D007093:Imidazoles; D007649:Ketamine; C076257:romifidine; D020926:Medetomidine; D002077:Butorphanol