Chemical immobilisation of free-ranging Pampas foxes (Pseudalopex gymnocercus): assessment of ketamine-xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam combinations

LUENGOS VIDAL, ESTELA MARIS; CASTILLO,DIEGO F; BAGLIONI, JOAQUÍN; MANFREDI, CLAUDIA; LUCHERINI, MAURO; CASANAVE, EMMA BEATRIZ

RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 96 p. 371 - 396

0034-5288

Two protocols to immobilise free-ranging Pampas foxes for ear-tagging or radio-collaring were evaluated.One 161 foxes were injected with ketamine?xylazine (K/X) and thirteen with tiletamine?zolazepam (T/Z). The use of both T/Z and K/X combinations typically resulted in a smooth induction and recovery. In 86% of the cases K/X protocol was judged effective (mean ± SD, K: 10.7 ± 3.3 mg/kg,X: 1.0 ± 1.0 mg/kg) while T?Z protocol was judged effective in 92% of the cases (T: 3.6 ± 1.05 mg/kg, Z: 3.6 ± 1.05 mg/kg). The primary differences between the two drug combinations were that the time necessary for the complete recovery was longer with T/Z, and thermic problems were found more frequently with K/X. Additionally, our results suggest that thermic stress may be a relatively frequent complication for Pampas foxes. This study provides baseline data on some physiologic variables in Pampas foxes captured with different methods and drugs in conditions.