USE OF TILETAMINE AND ZOLAZEPAM TO IMMOBILIZE CAPTIVE IBERIAN WOLVES (CANIS-LUPUS)

A mixture of tiletamine and zolazepam (Zoletil(R)) was used to immobil ize 29 captive born Iberian wolves. Based on their excitability during handling procedures the animals were categorized as excited (n = 15) and unexcited (n = 14). We observed differences in the responses of th ese groups to the drugs. Although immobilized with higher doses (mean +/- SD of 6.94 +/- 2.13 versus 5.04 +/- 1.74 mg/kg for the unexcited) the excited individuals had an irregular and less predictable response , with five individuals needing additional dosages in the excited grou p compared to one animal in the unexcited group. Arousal time and dura tion of immobilization of excited wolves was not correlated to initial drug doses, but was in unexcited animals; the excited group had a poo rer thermal regulation. Differences in arousal time and duration could be the a result of the different doses used. Excited wolves were olde r than unexcited (5.4 +/- 3.01 versus 2.86 +/- 2.11 years, respectivel y). For captive wolves, doses of about 5 mg/kg are recommended for non -excited and 10 mg/kg for excited individuals.