title: Effective immobilizing doses of medetomidine-ketamine in free-ranging, wild Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus).
abstract: Combinations of medetomidine and ketamine were evaluated in free-ranging, wild Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) as part of a reintroduction program in southwestern Norway in November 1995 and November 1996. The drugs were administered by dart from a helicopter. The mean (SD) effective immobilizing doses for 29 adults (8 males, 21 females) were 0.21 (0.04) mg medetomidine/kg and 1.0 (0.2) mg ketamine/ kg based on estimated body mass. There was no significant difference in mean induction times between males and females. However, animals with optimal hits (shoulder or thigh muscles; n=16) had a significantly shorter (P<0.05) mean induction time than did animals with suboptimal hits (abdomen or flank; n=13), 5.6 (2.2) min and 11.1 (4.7) min, respectively. Inductions were calm, and immobilized animals were maintained in sternal recumbency. Clinical side effects included hypoxemia and hyperthermia in most animals. For reversal, all animals received 5 mg atipamezole per mg medetomidine, half intravenously and half intramuscularly, and the mean (SD) time to standing was 3.7 (3.6) min.
authors: Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, NO-9292 Tromsø, Norway. jon.arnemo@hihm.no
authors: Jon M
authors: JM
authors: Arnemo
authors: Alina L
authors: AL
authors: Evans
authors: Andrea L
authors: AL
authors: Miller
authors: Øystein
authors: Ø
authors: Os
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009664:Norway; D012053:Reindeer / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine