Immobilisation of southern elephant seals and leopard seals with cyclohexamine anaesthetics and xylazine

Ketamine and xylazine were given to 55 southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) for stomach lavaging, and to three leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx). The elephant seals showed prolonged apnoea and two of them died owing to aspiration of stomach contents. Two of the leopard seals died from unknown...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary Record
Main Authors: Mitchell, PJ, Burton, HR
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 1991
Subjects:
Online Access:http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/129/15/332
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.129.15.332
Description
Summary:Ketamine and xylazine were given to 55 southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) for stomach lavaging, and to three leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx). The elephant seals showed prolonged apnoea and two of them died owing to aspiration of stomach contents. Two of the leopard seals died from unknown causes. Tiletamine and zolazepam were given to five elephant seals and one leopard seal. Two of the elephant seals and the leopard seal died from unknown causes. Xylazine alone was administered to 34 leopard seals. Sedation was poor at low dose rates (less than 1.7 mg/kg) but four of the seals given higher dose rates died owing to the aspiration of stomach contents.