Abstract
A 4-year-old, female, Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi), weighing an estimated 350 kg was immobilized five times in a 6-week period to manage a traumatic carpal joint injury. In all situations the zebra was fasted 12–24 hours and was active and alert with good body condition. Immobilization took place in a 6×10 m wooden stall. Ambient temperatures ranged from 15–21°C, while humidity ranged from 50–90%. The animal was premedicated with detomidine HCl (Dormosedan, Pfizer Inc., West Chester, PA, USA) administered IM via blow dart (Telinject, Saugus, CA, USA), followed by induction with carfentanil citrate (Wildnil, Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Fort Collins, CO, USA) administered IM also by blow dart. Naltrexone (Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Fort Collins, CO, USA) was given divided IV and IM by hand for reversal.
The average detomidine dose used was 13 mg. Carfentanil was given an average of 21 minutes after detomidine at a dose of 12 mg in all instances. The average time to recumbency following carfentanil administration was 13 minutes. The naltrexone dose used was 600 mg IV plus an average of 510 mg IM. The average time to standing after naltrexone administration was 4 minutes. The included table (Table 1) details the results of the repeated immobilizations.
Table 1. Summary of repeated immobilization of a Grévy’s zebra
|
Date
|
Detom. dose (mg)
|
Carf. dose (mg)
|
Interval between D & C (minutes)
|
Time to recumbency
|
Naltrex. dose (mg)
|
Time to standing (minutes)
|
Duration of recumbency (minutes)
|
|
15 February
|
10
|
12
|
14
|
9
|
600 IV 600 IM
|
5
|
104
|
|
22 February
|
10
|
12
|
33
|
14
|
600 IV 600 IM
|
3
|
66
|
|
1 March
|
15
|
12
|
17
|
14
|
600 IV 450 IM
|
5
|
65
|
|
15 March
|
15
|
12
|
23
|
11
|
600 IV 450 IM
|
4
|
63
|
|
30 March
|
15
|
12
|
20
|
19
|
600 IV 450 IM
|
4
|
69
|
|
Average
|
13
|
12
|
21
|
13
|
600 IV 510 IM
|
4
|
67
|
There are several reports in the literature involving immobilization of Grévy’s zebra with variable results.1-4 This report describes an immobilization protocol that was used repeatedly over a short period of time with excellent results.
Literature Cited
1. Allen, J.L. 1990. Renarcotization following etorphine immobilization of nondomestic Equidae. J Zoo Wildl Med. 21:292–294.
2. Allen, J.L. 1997. Anesthesia of nondomestic horses with carfentanil and antagonism with naltrexone. In: Proc Am Assoc Zoo Vet. 126.
3. Bristol, D.G., Smith, J., and M.S. Silberman. 1984. Acepromazine and etorphine for prolonged anesthesia of a zebra. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 185:1439–1440.
4. Klein, L. and S.B. Citino. 1995. Comparison of detomidine/carfentanil/ketamine and medetomidine/ketamine anesthesia in Grévy’s zebra. In: Proc Am Assoc Zoo Vet. 290–295.