CAPTURE OF FREE-RANGING MULE DEER (ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS) WITH A COMBINATION OF MEDETOMIDINE, AZAPERONE, AND ALFAXALONE.
The combination of medetomidine, azaperone, and alfaxalone has been successfully used to anesthetize captive white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ). This same combination was utilized to immobilize free-ranging female mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ; MD) in urban and nonurban environments (14 urban MD, 14 nonurban MD) in British Columbia, Canada. Physiologic data were collected to assess the safety and reliability of this drug combination under field conditions. Each deer received estimated dosages of 0.15 mg/kg medetomidine, 0.2 mg/kg azaperone, and 0.5 mg/kg alfaxalone intramuscularly via a remote darting system. Inductions were calm and rapid (mean time to sternal recumbency: urban MD, 6.4±2.2 min; nonurban MD, 8.2±4.1 min). Supplemental drugs were required to induce lateral recumbency in five deer, four of which had experienced initial dart failure (mean time to lateral recumbency: urban MD, 8.5±3.8 min; nonurban MD, 18.7±16.5 min). Recoveries were smooth and uneventful (time to standing: urban MD, 12.5±3.4 min; nonurban MD, 9.0±3.5 min) for all but one debilitated nonurban MD that died shortly after atipamezole administration (at five times the medetomidine dose). The major side effects of the combination were hypoxemia and hypercapnia. The combination of medetomidine, azaperone, and alfaxalone proved suitable for the immobilization of urban and nonurban free-ranging MD.
1   Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 9990 Riverside Drive, Powell, Ohio 43065, USA.
Amélie
A
Mathieu
2   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
Nigel
N
Caulkett
3   British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, 205 Industrial Road G, Cranbrook, British Columbia V1C 7G5, Canada.
Patrick M
PM
Stent
4   British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, 2080 Labieux Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9T 6J9, Canada.
Helen M
HM
Schwantje
D000818:Animals; D001376:Azaperone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001955:British Columbia; D003670:Deer; D018397:Equidae; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007103:Immobilization; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011277:Pregnanediones; D001376:Azaperone; C006477:alphaxalone; D020926:Medetomidine
Alfaxalone; Odocoileus hemionus; anesthesia; azaperone; medetomidine; mule deer