IMMOBILIZATION OF CAPTIVE RACCOON DOGS (NYCTEREUTES-PROCYONOIDES) WITH MEDETOMIDINE KETAMINE AND REMOBILIZATION WITH ATIPAMEZOLE

Eight captive raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) were immobilized with medetomidine HCl (MED) 0.1 mg/kg and ketamine (KET) 5 mg/kg i.m. in a crossover study. In group I, the animals were left to recover sp ontaneously, and in group II, the animals received atipamezole HCI (AT I) 1 mg/kg i.m. for reversal 20-25 min after the MED/KET injection. ME D/KET rapidly induced complete immobilization in both groups. The indu ction times were 3.3 +/- 0.2 (xBAR +/- SEM) and 3.4 +/- 1.1 min in gro ups I and II, respectively. Both the corneal and pedal withdrawal refl exes were absent in immobilized animals, and the mean times to reappea rance of these reflexes in animals recovering spontaneously were 90.3 +/- 8.6 and 102.4 +/- 10.0 min, respectively. In group 1, the mean rec tal temperature dropped from 3 6.8 +/- 0.2-degrees-C to 35.4 +/- 0.1-d egrees-C recorded 5 and 90 min after the MED/KET injection, respective ly, and the mean heart rate dropped from 110.0 +/- 5.7 to 75.0 +/-6.4 beats/min at the corresponding times. All animals had irregular respir atory patterns, with intermittent periods of apnea and tachypnea short ly after immobilization. Respiratory patterns became more regular duri ng the immobilization period (group 1), and the mean respiration rate increased from 7.9 +/- 0.7 to 18.0 +/- 2.3 breaths/min recorded 20 and 90 min after the MED/KET injection, respectively. Administration of A TI markedly shortened the recovery of immobilized animals without appa rent side effects. The mean time from ATI injection to when the animal s were able to walk was 15.9 +/- 2.3 min. In animals left for spontane ous recovery the mean time from MED/KET injection to when the animals were able to walk was 129.3 +/- 7.0 min. Medetomidine and ketamine can be recommended for immobilization of captive raccoon dogs; induction is rapid, there are few side effects, and the animals can be remobiliz ed with atipamezole.