Assessment of ketamine/medetomidine anaesthesia in the New Zealand White rabbit

Comparison of S(+)-ketamine and ketamine, with medetomidine, for field anaesthesia in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus)

“…Toe pinch was positive in many animals after the second pinch. Multiple pinches were used as Hedenqvist et al. (2001) and Kiliç & Henke (2004) found that they were necessary to evaluate anaesthetic depth.…”

The use and assessment of ketamine–medetomidine–butorphanol combinations for field anaesthesia in wild European badgers (Meles meles)

“…Medetomidine–ketamine combinations cause severe cardiopulmonary depression (Forsyth et al. 1999; Hedenqvist et al. 2001).…”

“…We chose to compare ketamine used alone (Ketaset; Southampton, Hants, UK) with ketamine combined with medetomidine (Domitor; Pfizer Limited, Sandwich, Kent, UK) and butorphanol (Torbugesic; Southampton, Hants, UK). Medetomidine-ketamine-butorphanol (M K B) combinations were chosen because of their apparent popularity and efficacy for minor operations in domestic mammals in the UK (Hedenqvist et al (2001). Medetomidine is a potent a 2 -agonist and produces dose-dependent sedation and analgesia that appears to operate synergistically with ketamine (Wolfensohn & Lloyd 1998;Bush et al 2001).…”

Rabbit anaesthesia

“…As medetomidine leads to hypoxia, supplemental oxygen (via intubation, face mask, or nasal catheter) should always be provided (Hedenqvist et al, 2001b). The depth of anaesthesia may vary between individual animals and supplemental inhalation anaesthetic agents are often required for surgical procedures.…”