Reference cardiopulmonary physiologic parameters for standing, unrestrained white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum)

Abstract

Chemical restraint is an important tool for the management and medical care of both captive and free-ranging rhinoceroses. Current anesthetic protocols for the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) are reported to cause varying degrees of hypertension, tachycardia, muscular stiffness and fasciculation, acidosis, and, most importantly, respiratory depression with resulting hypoventilation, hypoxia, and hypercapnea. To assist in the assessment and development of new and improved anesthetic techniques for the white rhinoceros, the following cardiopulmonary reference parameters for standing, unrestrained white rhinoceroses were generated (mean ±standard error [minimum -maximum]): heart rate = 39 ±0.8 beats/min (32-42), respiratory rate = 19 ±0.6 breaths/min (16-23), corrected indirect systolic blood pressure = 160 ±2.9 mm Hg (146-183), corrected indirect diastolic blood pressure = 104 ± 2.3 mm Hg (88-117), corrected indirect mean blood pressure = 124 ± 2.2 mm Hg (108-135), end tidal CO2 = 45.1 ± 0.7 mm Hg (41.7-48.0), rectal temperature = 36.8 ±0.1°C (36.6-37.2), arterial blood pH = 7.391 ± ;0.007 (7.346-7.431), arterial partial pressure of oxygen = 98.2 ±1.4 mm Hg (90.2-108.6), arterial partial pressure of CO2 = 49.0 ± 0.9 mm Hg (44.4-53.7), base excess = 3.5 ±0.4 mmol/L (1.9-5.9), bicarbonate = 29.3 ±0.4 mmol/L (27.3-32.2), and arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2) = 97.2 ±0.1% (96.6-98.0). Copyright 2007 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.