Reversible Immobilization of Free-Ranging Polar Bears With Medetomidine-Zolazepam-Tiletamine and Atipamezole

Cattet, Marc; Caulkett, Nigel; Polischuk, Susan C.

doi:10.7589/0090-3558-33.3.611

Cited by 42 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…9 Some drug combinations have proven unreliable in bears, including xylazine-ketamine and medetomidine-ketamine, due to the risk of sudden arousal with few predictable signs of recovery in response to loud noises, potential movement of the bear, painful stimuli, and vocalizations of cubs for sows. 8,9 For the past 10-15 years, tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil, Telazol) have become the drug of choice for immobilizing free-ranging bears, because this combination results in a relatively short induction time (generally Ͻ10 min), 6 reliable and predictable immobilization, minimal adverse effects on cardiopulmonary system, and safety in handling for operators. The disadvantages of tiletamine-zolazepam include the lack of analgesia for potentially painful procedures; the lack of antagonist drugs for tiletamine; and a lengthy recovery period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the brown bear (Ursus arctos), tiletamine-zolazepam 3,8 and xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam 8 have been commonly used. For polar bears (Ursus maretimus), tiletamine-zolazepam, 4,5,11,20,21 medetomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam, 6 xylazine and tiletaminezolazepam, 5 and xylazine and ketamine 15,19 have been used. For the Hokkaido brown bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis), tiletamine-zolazepam and midazolam-ketamine are commonly utilized.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reversible Immobilization of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) with Detomidine-Tiletamine-Zolazepam and Atipamezole

Laricchiuta

Gelli²,

Campolo³

et al. 2008

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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Chemical immobilization of free-ranging and captive wildlife is often required in many clinical situations. In this trial, tiletamine-zolazepam was combined with the alpha2-agonist, detomidine, in order to use the least amount of anesthetic drug possible to achieve a rapid immobilization; to ensure safety for animals and operators; and to be easily reversible with specific antagonists for a fast recovery. Twelve captive Asiatic black bears were anesthetized for clinical procedures, including clinical examination and blood sample collection, and for electrocardiographic and echocardiographic procedures. The combination detomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam, at the dosages of 0.03 mg/kg for detomidine and 1.5 mg/kg for tiletamine-zolazepam, proved to be reliable and effective in immobilizing Asiatic black bears for a 1-hr handling period for routine clinical procedures. Minimal or no respiratory and/or cardiopulmonary adverse side effects were observed, even with dosages calculated on the basis of an estimated body weight. The respiratory rate, pulse rate, and hemoglobin-oxygen saturation remained stable for the entire duration of anesthesia. Cardiac rhythm was always sinusal in all animals. Small injection volumes and darts for blowpipe use were utilized to minimize tissue damage at the site of injection. Induction and recovery were smooth and predictable, and provided for the safety of operators who could observe the bears' activities from a safe distance. Furthermore, the availability of the alpha2-antagonist atipamezole to counteract the effects of detomidine made this anesthetic regimen easily controllable and reversible. Moreover, the recovery time can be shortened by intravenous administration of this antagonist drug.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversible Immobilization of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) with Detomidine-Tiletamine-Zolazepam and Atipamezole

Laricchiuta

Gelli²,

Campolo³

et al. 2008

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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“…), the most common of which typically include a dissociative and a tranquilizer (e.g., zolazepam and tiletamine, ketamine and xylazine or medetomidine; Addison and Kolenosky, 1979;Bush and Custer, 1980;Gibeau and Paquet, 1991;White et al, 1996;Cattet et al, 1997;Caulkett and Cattet, 2002;Kreeger et al, 2002). TelazolH (Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA), a formulated combination of tiletamine and zolazepam, is used extensively in wildlife medicine and management due to its wide margin of safety, its broad spectrum of species efficacy and its lyophilized form that allows for reconstitution at variable concentrations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Immobilization of Black Bears (Ursus americanus) with a Combination of Butorphanol, Azaperone, and Medetomidine

Wolfe

Goshorn

Baruch‐Mordo

2008

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:Sixteen captive and five free-ranging black bears (Ursus americanus) were immobilized with a combination of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine (BAM). The BAM drug combination was premixed using 0.5 ml butorphanol (30 mg/ml), 0.25 ml azaperone (50 mg/ml), and 0.25 ml medetomidine (20 mg/ml) per milliliter to yield a final mix of (15 mg butorphanol + 12.5 mg azaperone + 5 mg medetomidine)/ml. This combination, dosed at 0.4 ml BAM/,23 kg estimated body weight, provided a mean induction time of 10 min (95% confidence interval [CI] 5 2 min), consistent anesthesia without apparent adverse effects, and smooth recovery (mean 5 15 min, 95% CI 5 4 min) after antagonism with atipamezole (5 mg/mg medetomidine) alone or in combination with naltrexone (5 mg/mg butorphanol). Based on our initial observations, BAM appears to be a reversible and accessible drug combination for immobilizing black bears that merits further evaluation for field use.

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“…For example, etorphine [1,11], ketamine-xylazine [7,13], and medetomidine-ketamine [3,5] have been used to immobilize bears. Recently a mixture of tiletaminezolazepam has often been used as an anesthetic drug administered alone for brown bear (Ursus arctos) [12,14] and polar bear (U. maritimus) [3,6,9,10] or administered with a combination of medetomidine for polar bear [2,3,5], black bear (U. americanus) [4] and sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) [8]. In this study, we first applied tiletaminezolazepam to Japanese black bear (U. thibetanus japonicus) to evaluate the anesthetic effect and its safety.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the only problem is that the effects of TZ can not be reversed because no specific antagonist drug for TZ is available. Recently, medetomidine-tiletaminezolazepam combinations (MTZ) have been used for handling of bears, and the use of atipamezole, the antagonist against medetomidine, reduced recovery times in bears [2][3][4][5]8]. There are many situations that the effects of TZ in bears should be reversed immediately, as when handling unhealthy bears and relocating those with aversive conditioning.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Immobilization of Japanese Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) with Tiletamine Hydrochloride and Zolazepam Hydrochloride

Asano

Tsubota

Komatsu³

et al. 2007

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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ABSTRACT. The effect of anesthetizing with a 1:1 combination of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride (TZ) was evaluated in 75 Japanese black bears. TZ was administered to 43 captive and 11 wild, 8 captives and 13 hibernating captive bears at the doses of approximately 9.0 mg/kg (usual dosage), 18.0 mg/kg (high dosage) and 5.0 mg/kg (low dosage), respectively. Sufficient anesthetic effects were achieved in all bears, and rectal temperatures, heart rates and respiratory rates did not change significantly during an hour handling. Complete blood cell examinations showed no abnormal data. A combination of TZ would be an efficient and safe drug for chemical immobilization of Japanese black bears. KEY WORDS: immobilization, Japanese black bear, tiletamine-zolazepam.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 69(4): 433-435, 2007 In many situations, such as attaching a radio-transmitter, medical examinations and sampling various biological materials, many drugs have been used for immobilization of free-ranging and captive wildlife. It is necessary to select anesthetic drugs with little adverse effects on the animal as much as possible. Anesthetics that have specific antagonists are generally preferable for wildlife. Moreover, in handling large animals such as bears, the safety of handlers should be considered. For example, etorphine [1,11], ketamine-xylazine [7,13], and medetomidine-ketamine [3,5] have been used to immobilize bears. Recently a mixture of tiletaminezolazepam has often been used as an anesthetic drug administered alone for brown bear (Ursus arctos) [12,14] and polar bear (U. maritimus) [3,6,9,10] or administered with a combination of medetomidine for polar bear [2,3,5], black bear (U. americanus) [4] and sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) [8]. In this study, we first applied tiletaminezolazepam to Japanese black bear (U. thibetanus japonicus) to evaluate the anesthetic effect and its safety.Healthy and sexually mature 64 bears (16 males and 48 females) kept in Ani Matagi-no-sato Bear Park, Akita and 11 wild bears (4 males and 7 females) captured by traps in the East Chugoku Mountain Range for the radio-tracking research were used between June 1996 and July 1997 in this study. Bears were immobilized with a 1:1 mixture of tiletamine-HCL and zolazepam-HCL (TZ, Zoletile ® 100, Virbac Laboratories, France; mixture of 250 mg zolazepam-HCL and 250 mg tiletamine-HCL) prepared at 300 mg/ml.Bears were divided into 3 groups (A, B and C). Group A (usual dosage) consisted of 54 bears (43 captives and 11 wild) administered approximately 9.0 mg/kg TZ intramuscularly by blowgun based on estimated body weight. Additional administration of TZ was needed in some captive bears of this group. Group B (high dosage) consisted of 8 captive bears and Group C (low dosage) was also 13 captive hibernating bears administered TZ intramuscularly based on estimated body weight at the doses of approximately 18.0 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg, respectively.After judging induction, bears were weighed and measured, and blood samples were collected. Final dosage...

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Reversible Immobilization of Free-Ranging Polar Bears With Medetomidine-Zolazepam-Tiletamine and Atipamezole

Cited by 42 publications

References 3 publications

Reversible Immobilization of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) with Detomidine-Tiletamine-Zolazepam and Atipamezole

Reversible Immobilization of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) with Detomidine-Tiletamine-Zolazepam and Atipamezole

Immobilization of Black Bears (Ursus americanus) with a Combination of Butorphanol, Azaperone, and Medetomidine

Immobilization of Japanese Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) with Tiletamine Hydrochloride and Zolazepam Hydrochloride

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