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Evaluation of three immobilization combinations in the capybara ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris )
Author(s) -
King Jay D.,
Congdon Elizabeth,
Tosta Carolina
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.20269
Subject(s) - butorphanol , medetomidine , biology , atipamezole , intoxicative inhalant , anesthetic , rodent , veterinary medicine , anesthesia , pharmacology , medicine , toxicology , ecology , endocrinology , heart rate , blood pressure
Capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ) are the world's largest rodent. Owing to its uniqueness, 50 AZA institutions in North America display this species. As shown by a survey, no standard anesthetic protocol has been developed for this species. As a part of an ongoing behavioral study in Venezuela, capybaras were surgically implanted with radio transmitters. Animals were randomly assigned to one of the three immobilization protocols: (1) Tiletamine HCl/Zolazepam HCl, (2) Tiletamine HCl/Zolazepam HCl/Medetomidine HCl, and (3) Tiletamine HCl/Zolazepam HCl/Medetomidine HCl/Butorphanol tartrate. The protocol recommended for minimally invasive procedures when inhalant anesthetics are unavailable is a combination of Tiletamine HCl/Zolazepam HCl/Medetomidine HCl/Butorphanol tartrate. This is based on ease of administration, volume, onset of action, depth of anesthetic achieved, reversibility, safety, and costs. Zoo Biol 29:59–67, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.