Immobilization of Giant Chacoan Peccaries (Catagonus wagneri) with a Tiletamine Hydrochloride/Zolazepam Hydrochloride Combination Author(s): Jack L. Allen Source: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 28(3):499-501. Published By: Wildlife Disease Association DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-28.3.499 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.7589/0090-3558-28.3.499

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Journal

Immobilization with

of Giant

a Tiletamine

Hydrochloride

Chacoan

nation

used

Chacoan

to

dosage

body

weight,

rate

of

given

induction

intramuscularly.

recumbency)

was

(the

time

stood

without

from

90

to

7.6

from

time

mm

The

from (SD

injection 2.1).

=

injection

stimulation

San Diego

use

mean

ranged

Chacoan

tiletamine,

peccary,

giant

Chacoan

and

H. Robins Co., is a commercially

able,

nonnarcotic,

nonbarbiturate,

able dogs

anesthetic and cats.

agent, approved This anesthetic

a 1:1 (w/w) ratio of teletamine chloride to zolazepam hydrochloride. letamine is a dissociative anesthetic zolazepam izer. This

is a benzodiazepine combination has

immobilize nondomestic King et Schobert,

a wide a!.,

animals 1977;

variety (Gray Boever

been et et

trial,

its effectiveness five

L. Allen, was used

was

collared

peeusing

combination given

weight,

(J.

is lim-

immobilized

of 2.2 intramus-

unpubl. in the

data). present

immobilization

conducted

from

and sweet

fed

a mixture

potatoes,

Septem-

of mandioca,

cactus

tia sp.), small hard rolls fruit (e.g., watermelon),

in

pads

(0 pun-

of bread, seasonal and nuts (e.g.,

peanuts). The immobilizing agent was reconstituted with sterile water to a concentration of 50 mg/ml each of tiletamine and zolazepam.

tranquilused a!., a!.,

on

successfully

study

squash,

hydroTiand

of domestic

were

enclosures

inject-

as

peccaries

7-yr-old giant Chacoan peccaries weighing between 15 and 40 kg were used. They were maintained in large outdoor fenced

Richmond, availfor use is available

hyOne

size (n = 5), wide range, and no de-

or comments

This

dures. Telazol#{174} (A. Virginia, USA)

collared been suc-

ber 1990 to July 1991, at Estancia Toledo, Gran Chaco, Paraguay (22#{176}21’S, 60#{176}2’W). Twenty-four (14 male, 10 female) 1- to

physproce-

to conduct

diagnostic

the Cha-

ketamine

study as a foundation for of giant Chacoan peccaries.

husbandry of giant Chacoan peccaries, the Zoological Society of San Diego has established a captive breeding program at Estancia Toledo, Gran Chaco, Paraguay. Safe chemical immobilization is necessary

collared sample dosage

cularly (i.m.) This information

and

of this species ical examinations

with

a tiletamine/zolazepam mg/kg of body

peccary

(Catagonus wagneri) inhabits the harsh Gran Chaco thorn forest of northwest Paraguay, southeastern Bolivia and northern Argentina. To learn more about the biology

the

related has

Road,

on

for

closely tajacu)

(Gray et a!., 1974). In a short clinical caries

endangered

on

scription

immo-

bilization.

The

Valley

reports

agents

immobilized

ited by small recommended

Cata-

zolazepam,

published

immobilizing

combination

mm. Tiletamine/zolazepam in was an effective and safe immofor giant Chacoan peccaries.

Giant

no

San Pasqual

drochloride (Lochmiller et a!., 1984). report on the use of ti!etamine/zolazepam

peccary

assistance)

are

of

cessfully

until

240

combination bilizing agent Key words: gonus wagneri,

wagnen)

Park, 15500

coan peccary. The peccary (Tayassu

Standing

the

until or

Wild Animal

There

captive giant wagneri) at a (SD = 0.46) of

24

(Catagonus 2.18 mg/kg

(the

time

time

Services,

combi-

immobilize

peccaries

mean

(Catagonus

28(3). 1992, pp. 499-501 Disease Association 1992

Combination

A tiletamine/zolazepam was

Diseases. © Wildlife

Hydrochloride/Zolazepam

Jack L. Allen, Department of Veterinary Escondido, California 92027, USA

ABSTRACT:

Peccaries

of Wildlife

tion,

to

jectile

and

Saugus,

1974; 1977;

It was pole

syringe

dart

(Vario

499

i.m.

or by dart,

California,

the animals were coming recumbent

1987).

given

hand a plastic

Telinject

USA). left

by

using

After

USA,

injecproInc.,

injection,

undisturbed until and immobilized.

beA

500

JOURNAL

OF WILDLIFE

TABLE

1.

oxygen zepam,

saturation September

DISEASES,

weights, for 24

Body

1990

drug

VOL. 28, NO. 3, JULY

dosages,

induction

times, rectal immobilized

Chacoan peccaries 1991, Paraguay.

giant

to July

1992

temperatures, pulse, respiratory with a combination of tiletamine

Mean Body

weight

(kg)

Drug

dosage

(mg/kg)

Induction

timeS

30.0 (mm)

Standing timeb (mm) Rectal temperature (C) Pulse

#{149} Induction time

saturation =

the

from

1.4-3.1

7.6

2.1

5.0-10.0

ND

until

“Standing time = the time from injection Not determined.

90-240

1.4

37.2-40.5

24.3

71-184

53.8

12.2

34-64

93.2

injection

15.9-40.0

104.7

(%)

time

7.18 0.46

ND

(breaths/mm)

Oxygen

Range

2.18

38.6

(beats/mm)

Respiration

SD

rates, and and zola-

90-98

2.2

recumbency.

until

the

animal

stood

without

assistance.

peccary was considered immobilized when it was unable to stand after being approached and gently touched or pushed. During the initial 30 mm of immobilization, rectal temperature, respiratory rate,

calm them. All animals retained palpebral, cornea! and swallowing reflexes. Overall muscle relaxation was good which enabled thorough physical examinations. Respiratory patterns often were observed to be

heart

rapid,

rate

monitored Monitoring eter,

and

counting

a pulse Nellcor

oxygen

saturation

were

recorded every 5 mm. done by rectal thermom-

and was

chest

excursions,

oximeter Incorporated,

(N-b

and

Pulse Hayward,

use

of

Oximeter, Califor-

nia, USA). The tongue was used as the site of sensor placement for all pulse oximetry measurements. Oxygen saturation is a measure of the degree to which oxygen is bound to hemoglobin. was used to estimate sensing

The oxygen

differences

in the

tra of these two forms leher, 1989). Induction

pulse oximeter saturation by absorption

spec-

of hemoglobin time was

(Ke!defined

as the time in minutes the drug until the animal

from injection of became recum-

bent. Standing time was defined as the in minutes from injection of the drug the peccary stood without assistance. The

results

are

reported

ambient temperatures study ranged from and

recoveries

or excessive There was

in Table

time until 1. The

during this clinical 16 C to 29 C. Inductions

were salivation no morbidity

smooth. were or

Convulsions not observed. mortality and

no peccaries became re-sedated. After being immobilized, animals were wrapped with dark, soft towels around their eyes to

shallow

and

fast.

Cutaneous analgesia peccaries reacted with

was poor in that limb movement

routine

venipuncture.

It was

to make recovery

continuous period;

reported

as

of

4.4

pam. shorter

a range

from

male was

mg/kg

i.m.

Doubling induction

the

lengthen

possible

observations during the thus, the standing time is 90

Standing animals retained and dulled mentation. Full normal behavior occurred immobilization. One yearling study accidently

not

all to

standing

240

mm.

an ataxic recovery 6 to 8 hr

to

gait with post-

not included given a double of

in the dose

tiletamine/zolaze-

dose did not achieve a time (7 mm) but it did time

(300

mm)

and

the

time until fully recovered (12 to 24 hr). This is consistent with Kreeger et al. ‘s (1990) observations in gray wolves (Canis lupus). The recta! temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation in this double-dosed animal were similar to other

animals

experience,

in the doubling

study. the

From dose

this of

one

Telazol

did not result in a deeper level of anesthesia. One female giant Chacoan peccary was pregnant at the time of her immobiliza-

SHORT COMMUNICATiONS

tion.

No

problems

were

examination and firmed by abdominal following

noted

during

pregnancy palpation.

immobilization

was conTwo weeks

she

gave

two healthy babies. Although cations occurred in this case, tion of pregnant recommended. Pulse

of assessing

variety

of species

ker et Whitehair

a!.,

et a!.,

DeNobile 1990; Lee

Schmotzer et al., 1991). uration data reported for giant Chacoan peccaries with

a

The the in

Bar-

a!., a!.,

1990; 1991;

oxygen satimmobilized this study is

healthy

study Society Unger,

physiological

Tagua

provided

of San managers

by

guidance.

Heuschele, Lieberman, and Steve

professional

the

Zoo-

Diego. Maria and of the Proyecto

overall

Dr. Werner nirschke, Alan Amy Chaddock their

supported

was

I thank

KING,

M.

5.

of

J. F.

KELLEHER,

Effects and

J.

of methemoglobmnemia mixed

venous

on pulse

oximetry.

1989.

HYATT.

oximetry

Anesthesiology

Use

W.

anesthesia inary

J., J.

of telazol

HOLDEN,

(CI-744) in

wild

AND

for and

Medicine/Small

K. K.

chemical

exotic Animal

1977.

restraint

carnivores. Clinician

and Veter-

72:

bilization

GUZZETTA,

AND

K.

and

PATTERSON.

reJour-

5: 12-21. P. H. HAMILTON. for

immobi-

Journal Association

tigers.

Medical

1989.

with

Pulse

oximetry.

tiletamine

nal of Wildlife

of the 171:

Journal

of

and

Diseases

26:

zolazepam.

Jour-

90-94.

S., K. K. TREMPER, AND S. J. BARKER. 1991. Effects of anemia on pulse oximetry and continuous mixed venous hemoglobin saturation monitoring in dogs. Anesthesiology 75: 118-122. LOCHMILLER, R. L., E. C. HELLGREN, R. M. ROBINSON, AND W. E. GRANT. 1984. Techniques for collecting blood from collared peecaries, Dicotyles tajacu (L.). Journal of Wildlife

LEE,

20:

47-50.

F. C., C.

MIHM,

Pulse

MACHADO,

oximetry

an adult

and

R.

AND

end-tidal

elephant.

asian

1988.

SNYDER.

CO2

Journal

monitoring

of

of Zoo Animal

19: 106-109.

W. E. A.

testine.

B., T. W. of a pulse

K. E.

RIEBOLD,

1991.

SCOTT.

American E.

SCHOBERT,

WHITEHAIR,

R. M. es.

Received J., P.

AND

1974.

BECK.

in chemical specimens.

Steady-state oximeter

Journal

ROWE,

response on

of Veterinary

1987.

Telazol

use

Veterinary Medicine K. J.,C. C. WATNEY, DEBOWES.

Veterinary

1990. Surgery

equine

in-

Research

for publication

and

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oximetry

243-244.

1722-

1725.

DENOBILE,

C.

Monitoring 5: 37-62. KREEGER, T. J.,U. S. SEAL, M. CALLAHAN, AND M. BECKEL. 1990. Physiological and behavioral responses of gray wolves (Canis lupus) to immo-

animals. KANE.

48:

52: 619-625. 70:

112-117. BOEVER,

assessing

Clinical

AND

CITED AND

of

Research

zolazepam

lions

Veterinary

Medicine

TREMPER,

C.

AND

and

wild

characteristics

J., K. K.

means

using CI-744 of exotic

Tiletamine

SCHMOTZER,

BARKER,

BUSH,

nal of Zoo Animal Medicine J.M., B. C. R. BERTRAM,

Diseases

Dr. Kurt BeBarbara Kurtz, Kingswood for

assistance. LITERATURE

a

of Surgical

894-898.

in a

1988;

et et

as

Journal

experience and anesthesia

American

state.

This

Clinical straint

in vetercontin-

oxygenation

(Mihm

1989; et a!.,

logical J akob

C. W.,

CRAY,

to

is not

has been used as a noninvasive,

oximetry

21-23.

no compliimmobiliza-

generally

Pulse

viability.

1977.

method

consistent

birth

1990.

bowel

lization

oximetry medicine

inary

uous

animals

her

501

15 October

1991.

AND

in hors-