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Effects of hot‐iron branding on heart rate, breathing rate and behaviour of anaesthetised Steller sea lions
Author(s) -
Walker K. A.,
Mellish J. E.,
Weary D. M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.d4911
Subject(s) - heart rate , respiratory rate , medicine , anesthesia , isoflurane , period (music) , breathing , ventilation (architecture) , blood pressure , geography , physics , meteorology , acoustics
This study assessed the heart rate, breathing rate and behavioural responses of 12 juvenile Steller sea lions during hot‐iron branding under isoflurane anaesthesia. Physiological and behavioural measures were recorded in four periods: baseline (five minutes), sham branding (one minute), branding (approximately 2.7 minutes) and postbranding (five minutes). No difference in heart rate was noted from baseline to sham branding, but heart rate increased from mean (sem) 78.3 (2.4) bpm in the baseline period to 85.6 (2.5) bpm in the branding period. Heart rate remained elevated in the postbranding period, averaging 84.7 (2.5) bpm. Breathing rate averaged 2.5 (1.0) breaths/minute in the baseline and sham branding periods increased to 8.9 (1.0) breaths/minute during branding, but returned to baseline by the postbranding period. Behaviourally, half of the sea lions exhibited trembling and head and shoulder movements during branding.