ANESTHESIA IN CAPTIVE GIANT PANDAS (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) WITH MEDETOMIDINE-KETAMINE.

Tim Bouts, Polly Taylor, Desheng Li, Frank Gasthuys, Alicia Quiévy, Stijn Schauvliege

Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 2024 Jan

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One male and one female giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) from a Belgian zoo were anesthetized on eight different occasions over a course of 4 yr for electro-ejaculation (n = 3) or artificial insemination (n = 5). Medetomidine (0.03-0.04 mg/kg) and ketamine (2.5-3 mg/kg) were administered by intramuscular remote injection. Animals gained sternal recumbency with the loss of response to external stimuli after 4.9 ± 1.6 min (mean ± SD). The trachea was intubated with a 14-mm-internal diameter endotracheal tube; anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen adjusted according to the required depth of anesthesia with a small-animal circle system. Physiological variables (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygenation, end tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure and non-invasive blood pressure) were measured and remained within an acceptable range throughout anesthesia. Atipamezole (0.17-0.25 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly after anesthesia. Recoveries were rapid and uneventful. Medetomidine 0.03 mg/kg and ketamine 2.5 mg/kg IM appeared to be the preferred doses for giant pandas.

Citation

Tim Bouts, Polly Taylor, Desheng Li, Frank Gasthuys, Alicia Quiévy, Stijn Schauvliege. ANESTHESIA IN CAPTIVE GIANT PANDAS (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) WITH MEDETOMIDINE-KETAMINE. Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 2024 Jan;54(4):796-800