Immobilization of California sea lions using medetomidine plus ketamine with and without isoflurane and reversal with atipamezole.

摘要

51 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) at a rehabilitation centre in northern California (USA) were given 140μg/kg medetomidine with 2.5 mg/kg ketamine i.m. Mean time to maximum effect was 8±5 min. At the end of the procedure, animals were given 200μg/kg atipamezole i.m. Immobilization and recovery times were, respectively, 25±12 and 9±7 min for 35 animals maintained with medetomidine and ketamine alone and 58±30 and 9±9 min for 16 animals intubated and maintained with isoflurane. No mortalities occurred as a result of the immobilizations. Disadvantages of the medetomidine and ketamine combination included a moderate variation in time to maximum effect and plane of sedation, a large injection volume and high cost. However, it is concluded that this combination offers safe and reversible immobilization that can be easily administered by the intramuscular route and that produces a plane of anaesthesia that is sufficient to carry out most routine diagnostic procedures.