Abstract
Objective
To evaluate allometric scaling for ketamine–xylazine (KX) anesthesia in wild felids
using domestic cats for reference.
Study design
Prospective single-phase non-blinded study.
Animals
Six domestic cats and 13 wild felids (five Leopardus pardalis, five Puma concolor, one Panthera onca and two Panthera leo).
Methods
Six domestic cats (4.1 ± 0.8 kg, REF1) were anesthetized by intramuscular administration
of ketamine (15 mg kg-1) and xylazine (1 mg kg-1). Wild cats were divided into three groups based on body weight: 12.9 ± 2.4 kg (G1;
n = 7), 43.0 ± 15.7 kg (G2; n = 4) and 126.0 ± 7.8 kg (G3; n = 2). Ketamine and xylazine doses were calculated based on allometric scaling of
the basal metabolic rate (BMR = 70 × body mass0.75). Afterwards, the six domestic cats were administered mean KX doses calculated for
G1 and G2 (REF2). The heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, respiratory frequency,
pH, the venous partial pressure of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and lactate concentrations
were recorded for up to 60 minutes.
Results
Additional doses were required in 12 out of the 13 wild cats. Anesthesia was not achieved
in G3. Latency periods in wild felids were longer than REF1 and REF2. Anesthesia duration
in REF1 was longer than that in the other groups. Recovery from anesthesia in REF1
and REF2 was longer than G1 and G2. Physiological variables remained within the range
limits for the species. G1 baseline lactate concentration was higher than in the other
groups.
Conclusion and clinical relevance
KX anesthesia established by allometric scaling of BMR from doses administered to
domestic cats did not predict reliable anesthetic doses for wild cats. Dose rates
calculated with this method must not be applied to these species.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 9,
2015
Received:
June 2,
2015
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
