Allometric Scaling of Chemical Restraint Associated with Inhalant Anesthesia in Giant Anteaters

• Published in: Journal of wildlife diseases Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 547 - 551
• Main Authors: Carregaro, Adriano Bonfim, Gerardi, Patrícia Molina, Honsho, Daniel Kan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wildlife Disease Association 01.04.2009; Wildlife Dis Assoc
• Subjects: Acepromazine - administration & dosage; Allometric scaling; Anesthesia Recovery Period; Anesthesia, Inhalation - methods; Anesthesia, Inhalation - veterinary; Anesthetics, Combined - administration & dosage; Animals; Animals, Wild; Body Weight - physiology; Buprenorphine - administration & dosage; chemical restraint; Diazepam - administration & dosage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; giant anteater; Heart Rate - drug effects; Heart Rate - physiology; inhalant anesthesia; Ketamine - administration & dosage; Mathematics; Myrmecophaga tridactyla; Respiration - drug effects; SHORT COMMUNICATIONS; Weights and Measures; Xenarthra - physiology; Xenarthra - surgery
• ISSN: 0090-3558; 1943-3700
• DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-45.2.547

This study describes the use of allometric scaling in five giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) submitted for osteosynthesis, gastrostomy, or treatment of burns. Chemical restraint was performed by allometric scaling using the dog as a reference; acepromazine (0.06 mg/kg), diazepam (0.3 mg/kg), ketamine (8.8 mg/kg), and buprenorphine (5.9 μg/kg) were combined, and the animals were maintained under isoflurane anesthesia. Heart rate, respiratory rate, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, temperature, and anesthetic depth were measured. Postoperative treatment consisted of ketoprofen, buprenorphine, and ceftiofur. Anesthetic induction was obtained in 10–15 min, achieving muscle relaxation and absence of excitement. Physiologic parameters were stable during the procedures, and postoperative treatment was effective. Allometric scaling was effective for chemical restraint and postoperative treatment.