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Equine veterinary journal2021; 54(3); 549-555; doi: 10.1111/evj.13490

Retrospective and prospective assessment of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine (BAM™) for immobilisation of feral horses (Equus ferus caballus).

Abstract: Butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine (BAM™) has not been evaluated in horses. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate BAM™ for chemical restraint of feral horses. Methods: Retrospective and prospective descriptive studies. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from medical records of 28 feral horses immobilised with BAM™ over a 6-year period. Prospectively, 0.0125 mL/kg bwt of BAM™ (butorphanol 27.3 mg/mL, azaperone 9.1 mg/mL and medetomidine 10.9 mg/mL) intramuscularly (im) was administered to eight stallions via dart, and once recumbent, 1.0 mg/kg bwt ketamine was given intravenously (iv). Induction and recovery time and quality via a standardised rubric (1 = very poor; 5 = excellent) and visual analogue scale (VAS), need for additional darts, weight tape measurement and serial physiological parameters were recorded. Serial arterial blood gas analysis was performed during recumbency. Following castration, horses were given 0.1 mg/kg bwt atipamezole (25% iv and 75% im) and allowed to recover unaided. Results: Retrospectively, 28 horses were successfully immobilised with BAM™ without a major complication. Prospectively, eight horses were given a median (range) actual BAM dose of 0.0143 (0.0127-0.0510) mL/kg bwt. Three of eight horses needed 1, 2 or 5 additional darts. Median (range) time to recumbency was 11 (2-44) minutes. Median (range) induction (n = 4) and recovery (n = 6) scores via rubric and VAS were 5 (4-5) and 5 (5-5) and 92 (86-93) and 98 (92-99) cm, respectively. Four of seven horses were hypoxaemic at ≥1 time point with otherwise acceptable physiological parameters. Following atipamezole, median (range) time to sternal recumbency and standing was 12 (2-18) and 17 (11-52) minutes, respectively (n = 6). Conclusions: The sample size was small. Data could not be collected before darting or after recovery. Some data were missing from retrospective analysis. Conclusions: Intramuscular BAM™ with iv ketamine provided chemical restraint suitable for field castration of feral horses with no mortality. Hypoxaemia occurred in the majority of horses.
© 2021 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-26 PubMed ID: 34145913DOI: 10.1111/evj.13490Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates the effectiveness of a drug combination, BAM™ (butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine), for physically restraining wild horses. It concluded that using BAM™, along with intravenous ketamine, is suitable for temporarily immobilising these horses, such as for castration procedures, despite some instances of low oxygen levels in the blood.

Research Methodology

  • The study was both retrospective and prospective in nature.
  • For the retrospective analysis, the researchers looked at medical records of 28 wild horses that had been restrained using BAM™ over a span of six years.
  • For the prospective analysis, eight stallions were administered with 0.0125 mL/kg body weight of BAM™, intramuscularly through darting. When the horses were lying down, they were given 1.0 mg/kg body weight of ketamine intravenously.
  • The researchers observed and recorded several factors like the time to achieve full sedation and recovery, the need for extra darts, the quality of sedation and recovery, weight tape measurement and various physiological parameters.
  • Once castrated, the horses were administered atipamezole for waking up and were let to recover without assistance.

Key Findings

  • Historical data from 28 treated horses revealed a successful application of BAM™ for immobilisation without serious complications.
  • In the prospective study, it was found that eight horses were effectively sedated with a median BAM™ dose of 0.0143 mL/kg body weight. However, some horses required one, two, or even five additional darts to reach full immobilisation.
  • The median time to sedation was 11 minutes, ranging from 2 to 44 minutes. Sedation and recovery quality were scored excellent in most cases.
  • Four out of seven horses experienced low oxygen levels in the blood at one or more times during the procedure but other physiological parameters remained within an acceptable range.
  • After the administration of atipamezole, the median time for the horses to adopt a sitting position and stand up was 12 and 17 minutes, respectively.

Conclusions and Limitations

  • Given the small sample size, the lack of data before darting, and missing information in retrospective analysis, the research had some limitations.
  • The combination of intramuscular BAM™ and intravenous ketamine was found to provide appropriate chemical restraint for field castration of wild horses, without any fatalities.
  • Low oxygen levels were recorded in the majority of horses, indicating the potential necessity for more extensive post-procedure monitoring or the adjustment of the drug combination in future applications.

Cite This Article

APA
Balko JA, Fogle C, Stuska SJ, Fogle JE, Posner LP. (2021). Retrospective and prospective assessment of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine (BAM™) for immobilisation of feral horses (Equus ferus caballus). Equine Vet J, 54(3), 549-555. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13490

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 3
Pages: 549-555

Researcher Affiliations

Balko, Julie A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Fogle, Callie
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Stuska, Susan J
  • Cape Lookout National Seashore, Harkers Island, NC, USA.
Fogle, Jonathan E
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Posner, Lysa P
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Azaperone / pharmacology
  • Butorphanol / pharmacology
  • Horses
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
  • Immobilization / veterinary
  • Ketamine
  • Male
  • Medetomidine / pharmacology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies

Grant Funding

  • North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine

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