Abstract

Between 2010 and 2014 a total of 42 anesthetic events were performed on nine (six male, three female) captive Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi) housed at a zoo in Peru. Three different protocols were used: ketamine (15 mg/kg) - xylazine (1 mg/kg) - midazolam (0.4 mg/kg),¹ (Ke-Xy-Mi; n=18); ketamine (7 mg/kg) - dexmedetomidine (0.04 mg/kg) - midazolam (0.1 mg/kg), (Ke-Dex-Mi; n=15) and ketamine (7 mg/kg) - medetomidine (0.08 mg/kg) - midazolam (0.1 mg/kg), (Ke-Me-Mi; n=9), with all agents administered by intramuscular injection (IM). Cardiorespiratory parameters were documented and quality of anesthesia was evaluated. Good levels of sedation and anesthesia were attained with all three protocols. Induction times were similar for the three protocols. However, recovery times post-alpha-2 agonist reversal were shorter with the Ke-Me-Mi and Ke-Dex-Mi combinations, where atipamezole (0.4 mg/kg, IM) was used, in contrast to the Ke-Xy-Mi where yohimbine (0.2 mg/kg, IM) was used. The degree of sedation and the level of muscle relaxation were of superior quality with the Ke-Me-Mi and Ke-Dex-Mi. Bradycardia was observed in all protocols, with a more pronounced decreased observed in animals anesthetized with Ke-De-Mi. Respiratory rate decreased the most in the Ke-Xy-Mi group. However, pulse oximetry values showed mild hypoxia (SO₂ ≤90%) in the Ke-Dex-Mi and Ke-Me-Mi groups during the first 10 min and 20 min, respectively. Rectal temperature decreased the most in animals anesthetized with Ke-Dex-Mi. In conclusion, all three protocols are considered safe and effective for the chemical immobilization of Andean hairy armadillos, but the Ke-Me-Mi and Ke-Dex-Mi had shorter reversal times.

Literature Cited

1.  Rojas G, Bermúdez L, Enciso M. Inmovilización química de armadillos peludos andinos Chaetophractus nationi (Thomas, 1894): uso de ketamina, xilacina y midazolam con reversión con yohimbine. Edentata. 2013;14:51–57.