Reversible anesthesia in wild marine otters (Lontra felina) using ketamine and medetomidine

Claudio Soto-Azat, Francisca Boher, Gabriela Flores, Eileen Mora, Alexis Santibañez, Gonzalo Medina-Vogel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nine marine otters (Lontra felina) were anesthetized 15 times with a combination of ketamine (5.3 ± 0.9 [range: 4.5-8.0] mg/kg) and medetomidine (53 ± 9 [range: 45-80] μg/kg) i.m. by hand syringe for the placement of radiotransmitters. Times to initial effect and induction period ranged from 1.1 to 5.0 min and 1.8 to 5.4 min, respectively. Minor complications did occur, including mild hypothermia in six otters and severe hypoxemia in one otter. After 34 and 63 min, anesthesia was antagonized with atipamezole (226 ± 29 [range: 179-265] μg/kg) and all otters recovered within 3.3-26.8 min.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)535-538
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Volume37
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2006

Keywords

  • Anesthesia
  • Ketamine
  • Lontra felina
  • Marine otter
  • Medetomidine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • General Veterinary

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