CARDIORESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE-BUTORPHANOL-MIDAZOLAM (DBM): A FULLY REVERSIBLE ANESTHETIC PROTOCOL IN CAPTIVE AND SEMI–FREE-RANGING CHEETAHS (ACINONYX JUBATUS)

Abstract

Multiple anesthesia protocols have been used in the cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ). Twenty healthy, captive cheetahs were immobilized with dexmedetomidine (15.8 ± 1.9 μg/kg), butorphanol (0.22 ± 0.03 mg/kg), and midazolam (0.18 ± 0.03 mg/kg) by intramuscular injection. Induction, recumbency, and recovery times were recorded, and physiologic parameters were monitored. Anesthesia was antagonized with atipamezole (0.125 ± 0.02 mg/kg) and naltrexone (0.1 ± 0.014 mg/kg) intramuscularly. All cheetahs were safely anesthetized with this protocol. Cheetahs were laterally recumbent by 8 ± 3.5 min. Cardiorespiratory values were stable throughout the length of anesthesia. Moderate hypertension, with systolic blood pressure ranging from 178 ± 19.8 mm Hg, was initially observed but decreased over time. There was a statistical decreasing trend in temperature; SpO2; and systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressure, but not in heart rate and end-tidal CO. Recoveries were rapid, with cheetahs standing by 11.3 ± 5.7 min postreversal administration. This is the first report of a dexmedetomidine-butorphanol-midazolam anesthetic combination in cheetahs. Overall, this anesthetic protocol proved to be safe and effective.

A veterinary survey of factors associated with capture-related mortalities in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

“…A surprising finding in the survey was the high number of mortalities (30%) that occurred after the anaesthetic antidotes were administered. Stormy recoveries have been reported in cheetahs if the primary α 2 -antagonist atipamezole is given at higher doses than reported in this survey (Woc Colburn et al 2017) or if it is given intravenously rather than intramuscularly. Recoveries are reported to be smooth and uneventful when either atipamezole or yohimbine is used at lower doses.…”

“…In the latter study, oxygen administration significantly improved the arterial partial pressure of oxygen. When dexmedetomidine was used with midazolam and butorphanol for induction, SpO 2 decreased over time and more than half of the cheetahs in the study required manual intermittent positive pressure ventilation 30–40 min after induction (Woc Colburn et al 2017). Hypoventilation and/or hypoxaemia therefore appear to occur in anaesthetised cheetahs in the absence of oxygen supplementation, regardless of the drug combination used for induction.…”

Clinical Management of Captive Cheetahs

“…These protocols provide a fast onset of anesthesia, good muscle relaxation and rapid recovery; however, sudden arousals can be observed at the reported dosages and total injection volume can become large. varying degrees of hypertension have been observed with α2 agonist combinations (LaFortune et al, 2005;Woc Colburn et al, 2017).…”

Intranasal oxygen reverses hypoxaemia in immobilised free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

“…Reversible chemical restraint combination protocols have been used in free-ranging animals, seeking to avoid the side effects observed with dissociative anaesthesia [ 18 , 19 , 21 , 22 ]; the advantages of their use include animals returning to their normal pattern of activities quicker and safer, preventing them from becoming vulnerable to predators or accidents due to the disorientation related to anaesthetic recovery. Similarly, they can given drug reversal agents if a dose higher than the recommended dose is administered or if the animal experiences unwanted side effects.…”

“…The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of fully reversible chemical restraint protocols on free-ranging capybaras and the effects of different O 2 supplementation flows. Based on the studies carried out with other species [ 18 , 19 , 23 ] as well as the authors’ experience, we hypothesised that nasal oxygen flows of either 2 or 5 L/min would reverse hypoxaemia in chemically restrained capybaras.…”