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17 March 2020 REVIEW OF ANESTHETIC PROTOCOLS IN ANDEAN BEARS (TREMARCTOS ORNATUS), SLOTH BEARS (MELURSUS URSINUS), AND GIANT PANDAS (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) AT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION'S NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK, 1995–2016
Michael S. McEntire, Katharine L. Hope, Lee-Ann C. Hayek, Jessica L. Siegal-Willott
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Abstract

A review of anesthetic procedures used in Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus), sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), and giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) housed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park (NZP) from 1995 to 2016 was performed. A total of 146 anesthetic procedures (55 procedures on 12 Andean bears, 38 procedures on nine sloth bears, and 53 procedures on five giant pandas) occurred at NZP during this time frame. Induction protocols involved some combination of ketamine (K; n = 121), tiletamine–zolazepam (TZ; n = 91), medetomidine (M; n = 67), xylazine (X; n = 42), midazolam (Mid; n = 9), and butorphanol (B; n = 1). The most commonly used protocols were TZKM for both Andean bears (n = 29) and sloth bears (n = 12), and KX in giant pandas (n = 17). Supplemental injections of K, TZ, Mid, or M were required to complete inductions in 66 cases (45%). Anesthetic maintenance was most often completed with isoflurane, ketamine, or propofol. The most commonly reported complications included perianesthetic emesis (n = 47), ptyalism (n = 16), and seizure-like activity (n = 11). The most frequent physiologic findings included low pulse oximetry values (n = 95), bradycardia (n = 95), hypothermia (n = 74), and hypertension (n = 55). Dose ranges, induction, and recovery times, supplementation and complication rates, and physiologic values are reported for each protocol by species.

Copyright 2020 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Michael S. McEntire, Katharine L. Hope, Lee-Ann C. Hayek, and Jessica L. Siegal-Willott "REVIEW OF ANESTHETIC PROTOCOLS IN ANDEAN BEARS (TREMARCTOS ORNATUS), SLOTH BEARS (MELURSUS URSINUS), AND GIANT PANDAS (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) AT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION'S NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK, 1995–2016," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 51(1), 67-79, (17 March 2020). https://doi.org/10.1638/2018-0165
Accepted: 6 October 2019; Published: 17 March 2020
KEYWORDS
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Anesthesia
bear
complications
Melursus ursinus
Tremarctos ornatus
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