Evaluation of Medetomidine-Ketamine for Immobilization of Feral Horses in Romania.
Abstract: Feral horses are immobilized for a variety of reasons including population control via contraceptives. Although opioid combinations have been successfully used for immobilization of feral horses, there is a need for combinations using drugs that are more readily available and present less of a human health hazard. We evaluated the chemical immobilization with physiological measurements and blood gas analyses of 91 free-ranging feral horses () remotely immobilized with a combination of 30 mg medetomidine and 775 mg ketamine in a single disposable 6 ml dart. During immobilization, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, capillary refill time and peripheral oxygen hemoglobin saturation (SpO) were evaluated. In eight horses, arterial blood samples were analyzed to evaluate the blood gases, acid-base status and hematologic variables. Targeted horses presented a wide range of age, size and body condition. Eighty-one horses had an uneventful mean induction of 7.2 min. Eighty-nine horses were immobilized in lateral recumbency with good muscle relaxation and a median recumbency time of 67 min. Ten horses required supplemental ketamine intravenously (x̄ = 434 mg) due to incomplete immobilization. In 58 horses the effects of medetomidine were antagonized with atipamezole intravenously. Increased respiratory rate (>20 breaths/min), increased heart rate (>45 beats/min) and decreased SpO 39.0°C) was recorded in six animals. Blood parameters showed hypoxemia (45 mmHg, = 5), high glucose levels (>134 mmol/L, = 3), increased blood lactate (>1.5 mmol/L), total carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and base excess which further increased in the second sample, whereas SpO and calcium values decreased. Recoveries were smooth, with one ( = 86) or more ( = 5) attempts of standing. Eighty-nine recoveries were uneventful, besides one male that showed signs of monoparesis of the left front leg and one mare with signs consistent with exertional myopathy. In conclusion, medetomidine-ketamine provided a reliable immobilization in feral horses over a wide range of body mass and age. However, based on the observed hypoxemia during immobilization, oxygen supplementation is strongly recommended for this protocol.
Copyright © 2021 Roşu, Melega, Evans, Arnemo and Küker.
Publication Date: 2021-06-21 PubMed ID: 34235198PubMed Central: PMC8255603DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.655217Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the evaluation of using a drug combination of medetomidine and ketamine for immobilizing feral horses effectively and safely in Romania, considering a range of age, size, and body conditions.
Research Methodology
- This study involved the immobilization of 91 free-ranging feral horses using a combination of 30mg medetomidine and 775mg ketamine issued through a 6ml dart.
- The evaluation during immobilization involved measuring heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, capillary refill time and peripheral oxygen hemoglobin saturation (SpO).
- In eight of the horses, arterial blood samples were taken to study blood gases, acid-base status and hematologic variables.
Findings
- A majority of the horses (81) had a tranquil immobilization experience averaging around 7.2 minutes.
- A total of 89 horses were successfully immobilized in lateral recumbency (lying on their side) with good muscle relaxation and a median recumbency time of 67 minutes.
- Ten horses required supplemental ketamine injections, averaging around 434mg, due to incomplete immobilization.
- In 58 horses, the effects of medetomidine were undermined using intravenous atipamezole.
- In more than half of the horses, increased heart rates, increased respiratory rates, and decreased peripheral oxygen hemoglobin saturation were observed; six animals showed increased rectal temperature.
- The blood parameters indicated hypoxemia (low level of oxygen), hypercapnia (excessive carbon dioxide), high glucose levels, increased blood lactate, total carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and base excess in some horses.
- All recoveries were generally smooth and uneventful besides one male who showed signs of partial paralysis of the left front leg and one female showing signs of exertional myopathy (breakdown of muscle tissue due to excessive physical demand).
Conclusion
- The study concludes that the combination of medetomidine-ketamine provides reliable immobilization in feral horses over a wide range of body mass and age.
- Given the signs of hypoxemia that were observed, the research highly recommends oxygen supplementation for this immobilization protocol.
Cite This Article
APA
Roşu O, Melega I, Evans AL, Arnemo JM, Küker S.
(2021).
Evaluation of Medetomidine-Ketamine for Immobilization of Feral Horses in Romania.
Front Vet Sci, 8, 655217.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.655217 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway.
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway.
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, Norway.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Bohner J, Painer J, Bakker D, Haw AJ, Rauch H, Greunz EM, Egner B, Goeritz F. Immobilization of Captive Kulans (Equus hemionus kulan) Without Using Ultrapotent Opioids.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:885317.
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