EVALUATION OF A BUTORPHANOL-MIDAZOLAM-MEDETOMIDINE PROTOCOL FOR SHORT PROCEDURES IN LESSER CHEVROTAINS (TRAGULUS SP.)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Anesthesiology
• Wildlife Medicine
• Comparative Physiology

Background:

• Lesser chevrotains (Tragulus sp.) require safe and effective anesthesia for research and veterinary procedures.
• Assessing anesthetic protocols in exotic species is crucial for animal welfare and successful outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a butorphanol-midazolam-medetomidine (BMidM) combination for short-term anesthesia in lesser chevrotains.
• To compare anesthetic induction and recovery times between male and female lesser chevrotains.

Main Methods:

• Twenty lesser chevrotains (10 males, 10 females) received intramuscular BMidM at specific dosages.
• Physiological variables were monitored during anesthesia, which lasted approximately 30 minutes.
• Anesthesia was reversed using atipamezole and naltrexone.

Main Results:

• Induction and recovery times averaged 9.4 and 10.2 minutes, respectively.
• No significant differences in physiological parameters were found between sexes.
• Females took longer to reach the ambulatory recovery stage compared to males (11.8 min vs 7.8 min).

Conclusions:

• The BMidM protocol provides reliable and safe anesthesia for short, minimally invasive procedures in lesser chevrotains.
• The protocol is characterized by rapid induction and smooth recovery.
• While generally effective, sex-based differences in recovery ambulation warrant consideration.