Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
1 January 1996 Immobilization of Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) with Ketamine and Xylazine
Jerrold L. Belant
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The effectiveness of ketamine and xylazine as an immobilizing combination for muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) was evaluated. Eleven muskrats were intramuscularly injected using a high (n = 7) or low (n =4) dosage of a 20:1 mixture of ketamine (12 or 20 mg) and xylazine (0.6 or 1.0 mg) in Carlton County, Minnesota (USA) from 1 to 4 May 1995. Mean (±SD) induction times for muskrats receiving a high dosage (6.5 ± 2.6 min) or low dosage (7.0 ± 1.6 min) was similar (P = 0.71). In contrast, muskrats receiving a low dosage recovered sooner (37.0 ± 15.1 min) than muskrats receiving a high dosage (62.2 ± 15.6 min) (P = 0.04). There was a positive linear relationship (r2 = 0.75, P = 0.02) between the amount (mg/kg) of ketamine-xylazine injected and recovery time but not between the amount injected and induction time (r2 = 0.49, P = 0.18). Heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature were similar (P = 0.20 to 0.62) between high and low dose groups. No mortality occurred nor were short-term adverse effects observed in recaptured individuals. I conclude that a 20:1 mixture of ketamine-xylazine is a safe and effective immobilization agent for muskrats when conducting non-surgical field procedures. Immobilizing muskrats with 15 mg/kg ketamine and 0.75 mg/kg xylazine should provide about 10 min of handling time before arousal and allow full recovery in <60 min.

Belant: Immobilization of Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) with Ketamine and Xylazine
Jerrold L. Belant "Immobilization of Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) with Ketamine and Xylazine," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 32(1), 152-155, (1 January 1996). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-32.1.152
Received: 15 May 1995; Published: 1 January 1996
KEYWORDS
field study
immobilization
ketamine
muskrats
Ondatra zibethicus
xylazine
Back to Top