HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fahlman, A. Articles by Nyman, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fahlman, A. Articles by Nyman, G.

¹ Section of Anesthesiology and Emergency and Critical Care, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7018, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
² Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environment, National Veterinary Institute of Sweden, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
³ Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, PO Box 6204, NO-9292, Tromsø, Norway
⁴ Faculty of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Hedmark University College, Evenstad, NO-2480 Koppang, Norway
⁵ GrimsöWildlife Research Station, Department of Conservation Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-730 91 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
⁶ Vaikijaur 617, SE-962 99 Jokkmokk, Sweden
⁷ Corresponding author (email: asa_fahlman{at}hotmail.com)

ABSTRACT:   Capture and anesthesia with medetomidine-ketamine were evaluated in free-ranging wolverines (Gulo gulo) immobilized for marking with radiocollars or intraperitoneal radiotransmitters in Norrbotten, Sweden, during early June 2004 and 2005. Twelve juvenile wolverines were captured by hand and injected with 0.14 ± 0.03 mg/kg (mean ± SD) medetomidine and 7.5 ± 2.0 mg/kg ketamine. Twelve adult wolverines were darted from a helicopter or the ground, or captured by hand. Adults received 0.37 ± 0.06 mg/kg medetomidine and 9.4 ± 1.4 mg/kg ketamine. Arterial blood samples were collected between 15 min and 30 min and between 45 min and 60 min after drug administration and immediately analyzed for selected hematologic and plasma variables. Hyperthermia was recorded initially in one juvenile wolverine and 11 adults. Rectal temperature, heart rate, and lactate decreased significantly during anesthesia, whereas hemoglobin oxygen saturation, pH, partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide, and base excess increased. Adult wolverines darted from a helicopter had a significantly higher rectal temperature, higher glucose and hematocrit values, and a lower heart rate than juveniles captured by hand. Impaired arterial oxygenation was evident in all wolverines. This study provides baseline data on physiologic variables in adult and juvenile wolverines captured with different methods and anesthetized with medetomidine-ketamine.
  Key words:  Acid-base status, anesthesia, arterial blood gases, Gulo gulo, immobilization, medetomidine, ketamine, wolverine.