Cardiorespiratory Effects of Dexmedetomidine-Butorphanol-Midazolam (Dbm): a Fully Reversible Anesthetic Protocol in Captive and Semi-Free-Ranging Cheetahs (Acinonyx Jubatus)
Colburn, A. Margarita Woc, Murray, Suzan, Hayek, Lee-Ann C., Marker, Laurie, and Sanchez, Carlos R. 2017. "Cardiorespiratory Effects of Dexmedetomidine-Butorphanol-Midazolam (Dbm): a Fully Reversible Anesthetic Protocol in Captive and Semi-Free-Ranging Cheetahs (Acinonyx Jubatus)." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 48, (1) 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1638/2016-0042.1.
Multiple anesthesia protocols have been used in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Twenty healthy, captive cheetahs were immobilized with dexmedetomidine (15.8 1.9 mu g/kg), butorphanol (0.22 0.03 mg/kg), and midazolam (0.18 /- 0.03 mg/kg) by intramuscular injection. Induction, recumbency, and recovery times were recorded, and physiologic parameters were monitored. Anesthesia was antagonized with atipamezole (0.125 /- 0.02 mg/kg) and naltrexone (0.1 /- 0.014 mg/kg) intramuscularly. All cheetahs were safely anesthetized with this protocol. Cheetahs were laterally recumbent by 8 /- 3.5 min. Cardiorespiratory values were stable throughout the length of anesthesia. Moderate hypertension, with systolic blood pressure ranging from 178 /- 19.8 mm Hg, was initially observed but decreased over time. There was a statistical decreasing trend in temperature; SpO2; and systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressure, but not in heart rate and end-tidal CO2. Recoveries were rapid, with cheetahs standing by 11.3 /- 5.7 min postreversal administration. This is the first report of a dexmedetomidine-butorphanol-midazolam anesthetic combination in cheetahs. Overall, this anesthetic protocol proved to be safe and effective.
