Immobilising free-ranging Alpine chamois with xylazine, reversed with atipamezole.
Between 1996 and 2005, 215 free-ranging Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) were immobilised with xylazine hydrochloride. The 110 male and 105 female animals received a mean (sd) dose of 2.5 (0.6) mg/kg with a range from 1.4 to 4.8 mg/kg. The immobilisation was reversed in 201 of the animals with an intramuscular injection of 0.3 (0.1) mg/kg atipamezole (range 0.03 to 0.76 mg/kg), corresponding to a mean ratio of atipamezole:xylazine of 1:9.4 (4.3). All the chamois were immobilised, but shorter induction and recovery times, and deeper sedation with no reactions to handling were obtained in more than 80 per cent of the animals with doses of 2.6 to 3.6 mg/kg of xylazine, reversed with 0.26 to 0.36 mg/kg atipamezole (a ratio of 1:10), injected within 90 minutes.
Dematteis
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Research Centre on Wildlife Management, Università degli Studi di Torino, Frazione Rore, 17-Sampeyre, Italy.
Rossi
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Canavese
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Menzano
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Meneguz
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D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007103:Immobilization / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D048608:Rupicapra; D014991:Xylazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D014991:Xylazine