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1 May 2016 Chemical immobilization in American black bears using a combination of nalbuphine, medetomidine, and azaperone
Lisa L. Wolfe, Heather E. Johnson, Mark C. Fisher, William R. Lance, David K. Smith, Michael W. Miller
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Abstract

Safe and effective but unscheduled drug combinations are needed for wildlife immobilization in some jurisdictions. To this end, we evaluated a combination of nalbuphine HCl (40 mg/mL), medetomidine HCl (10 mg/mL), and azaperone tartrate (10 mg/mL)—referred to as NalMed-A (or NAM)—in 28 American black bears (Ursus americanus), captured during June to August 2014 as part of an ongoing study conducted in and around Durango, Colorado, USA. We effectively immobilized all bears; induction (mean ± SE) was 16.2 ± 0.9 minutes (n = 25) and reversal was 19 ± 1.6 minutes (n = 24). Advantages of NalMed-A included low delivery volume, good sedation quality, and effective reversal. Moreover, NalMed-A does not contain compounds regulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, making it a useful unscheduled immobilization combination. Based on these and subsequent field experiences, our dosing recommendations are 0.5–1 mL NalMed-A/45.5 kg estimated body mass (0.44–0.88 mg nalbuphine HCl/kg, 0.11–0.22 mg azaperone tartrate/kg, and 0.11–0.22 mg medetomidine HCl/kg), and 5 mg atipamezole HCl/mg medetomidine for antagonism.

© 2016 International Association for Bear Research and Management
Lisa L. Wolfe, Heather E. Johnson, Mark C. Fisher, William R. Lance, David K. Smith, and Michael W. Miller "Chemical immobilization in American black bears using a combination of nalbuphine, medetomidine, and azaperone," Ursus 27(1), 1-4, (1 May 2016). https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-15-00018.1
Received: 15 June 2015; Accepted: 1 December 2015; Published: 1 May 2016
KEYWORDS
American black bear
Atipamezole
azaperone
chemical immobilization
medetomidine
nalbuphine
sedation
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