title: Field immobilization of Molina's hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) using ketamine and xylazine.
abstract: We injected 27 adult Molina's hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus chinga) intramuscularly by hand with ketamine hydrochloride (KH) and xylazine hydrochloride (XH) in the Pampas grassland of Argentina. Skunks were immobilized with a mean (±SD) dosage of 24.9±6.5 mg/kg KH and 1.9±0.6 mg/kg XH. The mean effective dosages of KH (27.6 mg/kg) and XH (1.7 mg/kg) were higher and lower, respectively, than those reported in skunks previously. Mean induction and recovery time were 5.3±1.9 min and 47.7±18.5 min, respectively. Hypothermia was the only problem detected in field immobilization and occurred in winter but did not appear to be associated with to drug doses. We conclude that KH/XH is a safe immobilizing drug combination for Molina's hog-nosed skunk.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Ecología Comportamental de Mamíferos--Cátedra de Fisiología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, Bahía Blanca (8000), Argentina. diefcastillo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Diego F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Estela Luengos
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Emma B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Casanave
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucherini
mesh_terms: D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001118:Argentina; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007103:Immobilization / Q000662:veterinary*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014991:Xylazine; D007649:Ketamine