Ultrasound characterization of the coelomic cavity organs of the red-footed tortoise ( Chelonoidis carbonaria )

Abstract

Ultrasound characterization of the coelomic cavity organs of the red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria).Ciência Rural, v.46, n.10, out, 2016.

Comparison of Subcutaneous versus Intramuscular Dexmedetomidine–Midazolam–Ketamine–Morphine (DMKM) Mixture as Chemical Restraint for Endoscopic Sex Determination in Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea)

“…However, multimodal anaesthesia was chosen to provide a good analgesic level throughout the entire surgical procedure. In fact, a DMK combination provided sufficient sedation or light anaesthesia, allowing the execution of various clinical procedures, including minimally invasive endoscopic examinations, blood sample collection, and imaging [18,24,27,43,44]. The authors of prior studies focusing on the anaesthesia of red-footed tortoises used higher doses of dexmedetomidine-midazolam and ketamine than those used in the present DMKM protocol [35,44] and did not include morphine in the drug mixture.…”

“…In fact, a DMK combination provided sufficient sedation or light anaesthesia, allowing the execution of various clinical procedures, including minimally invasive endoscopic examinations, blood sample collection, and imaging [18,24,27,43,44]. The authors of prior studies focusing on the anaesthesia of red-footed tortoises used higher doses of dexmedetomidine-midazolam and ketamine than those used in the present DMKM protocol [35,44] and did not include morphine in the drug mixture. In this case, morphine was chosen as an additional pain relief agent, as this has been demonstrated to be effective in several reptilian species [18].…”

Evaluation of the effects of a dexmedetomidine-midazolam-ketamine combination administered intramuscularly to captive red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonaria)

“…12,13,22,23,[35][36][37][38] The authors of previous reports on anesthesia of red-footed tortoises used much higher doses of the drugs used in the present DMK protocol. For example, ketamine (40 mg/kg, IM) and midazolam (2.0 mg/kg, IM) facilitated ultrasonographic examination, 5 and much lower drug doses may be needed with this DMK protocol. In another prospective study, 18 red-footed tortoises underwent 3 different treatments, including ketamine (30 mg/kg), ketamine (30 mg/kg) plus midazolam (1 mg/kg), or ketamine (30 mg/kg) plus butorphanol (1 mg/kg), and each treatment failed to produce a surgical plane of anesthesia.…”

“…In 1 study, 14 a combination of ketamine hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg) and propofol (7.0 mg/kg) was injected into the dorsal cer-vical sinus to facilitate radiography and CT of these animals, and maintenance with smaller doses of ketamine (0.2 mg/kg) and propofol (4.0 mg/kg) were required. In other investigations, red-footed tortoises were anesthetized with ketamine (40 mg/kg, IM) and midazolam (2.0 mg/kg, IM) for ultrasonography 5 or with midazolam (2.0 mg/kg, IM), ketamine (40 mg/ kg, IM), and propofol (15 mg/kg, IV) for exsanguination. 15 A combination of ketamine (3.16 mg/kg) and xylazine (0.13 mg/kg) administered IM in a forelimb produced sedation sufficient for collection of a jugular venous blood sample within approximately 15 minutes in another study, 16 and a combination of butorphanol (1.0 mg/kg), ketamine (40 mg/kg), and midazolam (2.0 mg/kg) administered IM in a forelimb resulted in sufficient relaxation to allow intubation for inhalation anesthesia of a red-footed tortoise undergoing surgical treatment for cutaneous melanoma.…”

“…1,2 These tortoises are commonly kept as pets or in zoological collections and are frequently studied in behavioral research. [3][4][5][6] Chemical immobilization or anesthesia of tortoises is often necessary to enable clinicians to perform examinations or diagnostic procedures. The application of species-specific safe and effective anesthesia protocols is desired.…”