Chemical immobilization of felids, ursids, and small ungulates

Private ownership of wild animals is on the rise. With the advent of potent new sedative agents, many practitioners now receiving these cases have the means to increase the safety and effectiveness of chemical immobilization in many wildlife species. Chemical immobilization is actually the induction of anesthesia. In many cases, induction alone suffices to achieve some management or medical goal, whereas in other cases, maintenance anesthesia is required. One quickly realizes that once these species are induced, maintenance anesthesia is often familiar, based on experiences with domestic animals that bear close similarity to the species discussed in this chapter. Induction and recovery of wild animals requires special attention to details to prevent "fight or flight" responses from marring the success of a sedation procedure. Although potent novel drugs allow veterinarians to expand their practice horizons, it is vital to evaluate legal and safety issues thoroughly before engaging in the care of wildlife species on a regular basis.