COMPARISON OF XYLAZINE AND DEXMEDETOMIDINE AS PREANESTHETICS ON ZOLAZEPAM – TILETAMINE ANESTHESIA IN SLOTH BEARS (Melursus ursinus)
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Date
2017-12
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR – 585 401
Abstract
The study was undertaken to compare Xylazine and Dexmedetomidine as
preanesthetics on Zolazepam + Tiletamine anesthesia in twelve captive sloth bears
(Melursus ursinus) at Wildlife SOS, Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Center, Bengaluru. The
bears were randomly divided into two groups of six each. Group A sloth bears were
immobilized with Xylazine (1.33 mg/kg) and Zolazepam + Tiletamine (2 mg/kg) i.m. and
Group B sloth bears were immobilized with Dexmedetomidine (6 µg/kg) and Zolazepam
+ Tiletamine (2 mg/kg) i.m. using blow pipe and dart. The induction time was 10.50 ±
0.43 minutes in Group A and 8.50 ± 0.43 minutes in Group B. Anesthetic induction and
recovery was smooth and more predictable with good muscle relaxation in Group B
bears. Duration of anesthesia was longer (64.00 ± 2.07 minutes) with recovery time of
(66.17 ± 10.27 minutes) in Group B as compared to Group A where the duration of
anesthesia was short (41.67 ± 1.06 minutes) with a recovery time of (57.17 ± 2.21
minutes) with adverse effects of salivation, retching and sometimes vomition during
induction and recovery period. In conclusion, DexMZT combination was found to be
superior as compared to the XZT because of its faster and smoother induction, longer
maintenance period and absence of adverse effects.
Key words : Sloth bears, anesthesia and recovery.