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12 June 2020 EVALUATION OF TWO ANESTHETIC COMBINATIONS IN LOWLAND NYALA (TRAGELAPHUS ANGASII)
Peter A. Black, Dominique L. Keller, Michael S. Burton, Cara Martel
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Abstract

Fourteen lowland nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) in managed care were successfully anesthetized for a total of 17 anesthetic events using either a combination of butorphanol (0.75 ± 0.15 mg/kg), azaperone (0.25 ± 0.05 mg/kg), and medetomidine (0.30 ± 0.06 mg/kg) (BAM) or medetomidine (0.17 ± 0.01 mg/kg), azaperone (0.22 ± 0.02 mg/kg), and alfaxalone (0.52 ± 0.08 mg/kg) (MAA) delivered intramuscularly via dart. Mean time to initial effect, sternal recumbency, lateral recumbency, handling, and intubation were recorded. The nyala were maintained in sternal recumbency with supplemental oxygenation until 60 min after initial injection. Cardiopulmonary effects were recorded every 5 min after handling until reversal. Arterial blood samples were collected every 15 min for analysis. Level of sedation and quality of recovery were scored. Anesthesia was antagonized with atipamezole (at 5 mg per mg of medetomidine) for both protocols and naltrexone (at 2 mg per mg of butorphanol) for the BAM protocol delivered intramuscularly via hand injection. Mean time to extubation, head control, and standing post reversal were recorded. No hyperthermia, acidemia, apnea, or tachycardia occurred; however, animals did display hypoxemia. Two animals in the BAM cohort required supplementation to facilitate handling. These drug combinations provided satisfactory levels of sedation in most cases for safe handling and minor procedures in lowland nyala under managed care.

Copyright 2020 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Peter A. Black, Dominique L. Keller, Michael S. Burton, and Cara Martel "EVALUATION OF TWO ANESTHETIC COMBINATIONS IN LOWLAND NYALA (TRAGELAPHUS ANGASII)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 51(2), 290-296, (12 June 2020). https://doi.org/10.1638/2019-0028
Accepted: 18 February 2020; Published: 12 June 2020
KEYWORDS
Anesthesia
Lowland nyala
medetomidine
sedation
Tragelaphus angasii
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