Preliminary Evaluation of Medetomidine/Ketamine Combinations for Immobilization and Reversal with Atipamezole in Three Tortoise Species
Assoc Reptilian Amphibian Vet 8[4]:6-9 Winter'98 Reports of Original Studies 21 Refs

- Twenty immobilizations, for various minor clinical procedures, were performed on 12 adult and sub-adult leopard, Geochelone pardalis, yellow foot, Geochelone denticulata, and Aldabra, Aldabrachelys gigantea, tortoises with a combination of medetomidine and ketamine. An intravenous dose rate of 100 ug/kg medetomidine for leopard and yellow foot tortoises and 25-80 ug/kg for Aldabra tortoises resulted in induction times (time from drug injection until the head could be pulled out and the mouth opened) that ranged between 4 and 16 minutes (median 10) and 15-45 minutes (45) respectively. Recovery times (time from drug injection until the tortoise was able to withdraw its head with strength) using intravenous atipamezole at a dose rate of 400 ug/kg for leopard and yellow foot and 100-380 ug/kg for Aldabra tortoises ranged between 2 and 30 minutes (5) and 5-15 minutes (5) respectively. Most (90%) of leopard and yellow foot tortoises experienced a drop in heart rate from baseline following medetomidine/ketamine administration, however no clinical complications were noted. Two leopard tortoises vomited post intravenous injection of atipamezole. One Aldabra tortoise exhibited penile prolapse following intravenous injection of medetomidine/ketamine and one yellow foot and three Aldabra tortoises exhibited a transient bilateral hindlimb paralysis even after reversal with atipamezole. (Author Abstract)