Comparative Anesthesia and Analgesia of Zoo Animals and Wildlife

Abstract

Induction of anesthesia in wildlife can be extremely stressful, and stress-related conditions or injuries can result. Free-ranging wildlife are subject to environmental hazards and are often at risk for hypothermia or hyperthermia. Wildlife capture is often required for both research and management purposes. Capture events should be carefully planned because complications can often be anticipated and responses better prepared. Weather conditions may dictate whether wildlife capture is possible. A number of hazards can be encountered during anesthesia of free-ranging wildlife. Wildlife capture often requires drug delivery over relatively long distances. Darts that use an explosive discharge mechanism can produce considerable muscle trauma and should be reserved for large, well-muscled animals. Wildlife immobilization has progressed a great deal in recent years. A variety of opioids have been used for wildlife capture. Agents are combined either for their synergistic immobilizing effects or to counter adverse physiologic effects of singular agents.

Keywords

Darts; Explosive discharge mechanisms; Field anesthesia; Opioid-based immobilization; Remote drug delivery equipment; Veterinary analgesia; Wildlife capture; Zoo animals

Published in

Title: Veterinary Anesthesiaand Analgesia : The Fifth Edition of Lumb and Jones
Publisher: wiley

SLU Authors

• Arnemo, Jon

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Hedmark University College

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Wildlife Management

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119421375.ch40
• ISBN: 9781118526231
• eISBN: 9781119421375

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/130289