Forty wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) were immobilized with medetomidine and ketamine and reversed by atipamezole in summer and fall captures from September 1994 to October 1995. For large yearling and older deer, mean ± SD doses of 57.0 ± 15.6 μg/kg medetomidine and 1.64 ± 0.49 mg/kg (male) or 4.02 ± 1.16 mg/kg (female) of ketamine were administered by intramuscular injection. For calves and small yearlings, 69.3 ± 7.0 μg/kg medetomidine and 2.69 ± 0.44 mg/kg ketamine were administered. While immobilized, deer were easy to handle, and muscles were well relaxed. After intramuscular administration of atipamezole (about 5 times the dose of medetomidine), deer recovered rapidly and smoothly.
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1 October 1999
Immobilization of Sika Deer with Medetomidine and Ketamine, and Antagonism by Atipamezole
Hifumi Tsuruga,
Masatsugu Suzuki,
Hiroshi Takahashi,
Kiyoe Jinma,
Koichi Kaji
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 35 • No. 4
October 1999
Vol. 35 • No. 4
October 1999
Atipamezole
Cervus nippon
chemical immobilization
ketamine
medetomidine
sika deer