Medetomidine- and Medetomidine-Ketamine-induced Immobilization in Blue Foxes (Alopex lagopus) and its Reversal by Atipamezole

Abstract

Jalanka, H.: Medetomidine- and medetomidine-ketamine-induced immobilization in bue foxes (Alopex lagopus) and its reversal by atipamezole. Acta vet. scand. 1990, 31, 63–71. – The sedative and immobilizing effects of the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist medetomidine alone or combined with the dissociative anesthetic ketamine, were studied in blue foxes. Medetomidine at doses of 25 and 50 μg/kg induced moderate to deep sedation, but only with the highest medetomidine dose tested, 100 μg/kg, was the immobilization complete. Medetomidine 50 μg/kg combined with ketamine 2.5 mg/kg rapidly induced complete immobilization, characterized by good myorelaxation, and no clinically significant alterations in serially determined hematologic and serum chemistry parameters. The alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist atipamezole effectively reversed the medetomidine- or medetomidine-ketamine-induced immobilizations. A transient increase in heart rates was noted after each atipamezole injection.