TRANQUILIZATION OF CANE RATS (THRYONOMYS SWINDERIANUS) WITH A DEPOT NEUROLEPTIC (PIPOTHIAZINE PALMITATE)

Stress-induced self-trauma is a major cause of mortality among captive cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus). Six subadult female cane rats we re injected with a long-acting neuroleptic drug (pipothiazine palmitat e, 25 mg/kg), and an equal number were injected with isotonic saline. Their behaviour and reactions to stimuli were recorded daily. After 5 weeks, treated animals continued to display significantly less stress- related behaviour than the control group. In addition, two abbreviated studies were conducted. Eleven subadult males were treated identicall y to the females. Their behaviour was recorded for 1 week. Subsequentl y, 11 indocile animals on a commercial cane rat farm were tested for c almness, treated with pipothiazine and retested after 2.5 weeks. The r esults of these studies were similar to those in the female study. A s ignificant taming effect was seen 30 days after a single treatment for all invasive or aggressive tests in treated cane rats, and no extrapy ramidal effects were noted. Pipothiazine affected neither their alertn ess nor weight gain. However, substantial behavioural alteration requi res the exposure of the animal to stressful stimuli during the treatme nt period. Pipothiazine palmitate decreases the stress experienced by cane rats, eases their transition to a new environment, makes them eas ier to handle and less likely to injure themselves.