Anaesthesia of a Sumatran tiger on eight occasions with ketamine, medetomidine and isoflurane

• Published in: New Zealand veterinary journal Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 105 - 108
• Main Authors: Forsyth, S.F., Machon, R.G., Walsh, V.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.1999
• Subjects: anaesthesia; atipamezole; ketamine; medetomidine; sedation; Tiger
• ISSN: 0048-0169; 1176-0710
• DOI: 10.1080/00480169.1999.36123

Case. An 18-month-old male Sumatran tiger was referred for endoscopy and dilatation of an oesophageal stricture. Anaesthesia and bouginage was undertaken on eight occasions 2-3 weeks apart to dilate the oesophageal stricture. Clinical findings. On the first occasion, sedation was induced with a combination of medetomidine (30 /gkg) and ketamine (2.35 mg/kg) given intramuscularly. Cardiopulmonary depression (chararcterised by bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, hypoventilation and cyanosis) was severe and in subsequent anaesthesias the medetomidine dose was decreased to about 18 g/kg and the ketamine dose increased to about 3 g/kg given intramuscularly. Immobilisation was adequate and the severity of the cardiopulmonary depression was reduced at the revised drug dosages. Atipamezole was effective in reversing both the cardiopulmonary and central nervous system depression. Conclusion. The dosage of medetomidine and ketamine recommended in the literature for immobilising tigers produced severe cardiopulmonary depression in this animal. A reduced dosage of medetomidine and higher dosage of ketamine provided adequate restraint with decreased cardiopulmonary depression.