Inaugural Conference - June 2002

A ZOLAZEPAM - TILETAMINE – KETAMINE – XYLAZINE MIXTURE AS A SAVE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE FOR IMMOBILISATION OF WILD AND SEMI-DOMESTICATED CATTLE

MJ Hoyer1, P van Dijk2 and PAM Overgaauw3

  1. Veterinary and Immobilisation Advisory Bureau, Westermeeweg 28, 1697 KW Schellinkhout, The Netherlands
  2. Dept. of Equine Sciences, Section Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 80.153, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
  3. Molecaten 57, 3772 LJ Barneveld. Previously: VIRBAC Nederland BV, Barneveld, The Netherlands

For Dutch veterinary practitioners, not having access to etorphine, anaesthesia of non- and semi-domestic cattle can be very difficult and frustrating.
In an effort to find a safe and effective alternative, a trial was conducted with semi-domesticated beef cattle of the Limosin breed. Three different mixtures of anaesthetic agents were used, all of them having Zoletil® (= zolazepam-HCl plus tiletamine-HCl, 1:1 dry powder) as a basis.
Induction time, total down time, vital signs were recorded and bloodgas analysis was carried out when possible.

ZoletilKetamineAtisedan
1. A combination of Zoletil® 1000 mg plus xylazine 500 mg (dry powder) dissolved in 5 ml, given at 1 ml per 150 kg BW (estimated weight) administered by blowdart proved to be very effective (n= 5). However the effect of xylazine had to be antagonised because of severe respiratory depression.
2. A combination of Zoletil® 1000 mg plus Domosedan® (=detomidine-HCl, 10 mg/ml) 10, 20 or 30 mg (n = 4) administered by blowdart did not result in sufficient immobilisation.
3. A mixture of Zoletil® 1000, ketamine-HCl 1000 and xylazine-HCl 500 mg (dry powder) dissolved in 11,5 ml given at a dose of 1 ml per 150 kg BW (n = 12) effects in a very fast (x = 8,5 min ) and stable immobilisation of the animals, when administered by jabstick or blowdart. They lied down in sternal recumbency and arterial blood samples could be taken for bloodgas analysis.
Vital signs and blood analysis demonstrated sufficient respiration.
All anaesthetised animals received Antisedan® (atipamezole-HCl 10 mg/ml) to antagonise the xylazine effects.
4. The same combination as in 3. was used in captive wild American Bison at a dose of 1 ml per 100 kg BW (estimated weight). This resulted in a very fast (< 5 min) induction and stable deep anaesthesia.

Conclusion: the combination of Zoletil® (Z) 1000 mg, ketamine (K) 1000 mg and xylazine (X) 500 mg given at a dose of 0.6 mg Z, 0.6 mg K and 0,3 X per kg BW seems to be an effective immobilising agent for non-domesticated cattle.

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