Immobilization of wild kinkajous (Potos flavus) with medetomidine-ketamine and reversal by atipamezole.

As part of a wildlife rescue during the filling of a lake created by a hydroelectric dam (Petit Saut, French Guiana), 10 wild kinkajous (Potos flavus) were immobilized with medetomidine and ketamine for clinical examination and collection of biological samples. A mean (+/-SD) i.m. dose of 0.11+/-0.01 mg/kg medetomidine and 5.5+/-0.6 mg/kg ketamine rapidly induced complete immobilization (3.0+/-0.9 min) with good muscle relaxation and loss of corneal and pedal withdrawal reflexes. The duration and the quality of the anesthesia allowed procedures including minor surgery. Rectal temperature, heart and respiration rates, and relative oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) were monitored at 5 min, 15 min, and 30 min after the medetomidine ketamine injection. Rectal temperature and heart rate significantly decreased during this time (P < 0.05). Low values of SpO2 (<90%) were recorded shortly after the injection. Hypoxemia partially resolved with time, confirmed by an increase in most SpO2 values. Atipamezole given i.m. at 5 mg/mg of medetomidine reversed the effects of the medetomidine in kinkajous. No adverse effects were observed during recovery. In group I, the antagonist was injected at 40.6+/-3.9 min. In group II, the animals showed signs of spontaneous recovery 37.9+/-6.9 min before antagonist injection at 52.2+/-6.1 min. Time from antagonist injection to ambulatory state was significantly shorter (P < 0.05) in group II (2.8+/-1.1 min) than in group I (6.9+/-1.2 min).