No negative effects of intra-abdominal bio-logger implantation under general anaesthesia on spatial cognition learning in a hibernator the edible dormouse.

The effect of hibernation on cognitive capacities of individuals is not fully understood, as studies provide conflicting results. Most studies focus on behavioural observations without taking the physiological state of individuals to account. To mechanistically understand the effect of hibernation on the brain, physiological parameters need to be included.

Dehorning Does Not Alter the Stress Response in Southern White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum) during Transport: A Preliminary Investigation.

Translocation and dehorning are common and important practices for rhinoceros management and conservation. It is not known if dehorning causes a stress response or negatively affects rhinoceroses during transport. Twenty-three subadult wild Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) bulls were immobilized and translocated >280 km for population management reasons.

Capture and transport of white rhinoceroses () cause shifts in their fecal microbiota composition towards dysbiosis.

Translocations of are commonly performed for conservation purposes but expose the animals to a variety of stressors (e.g. prolonged fasting, confinement, novel environment, etc.

Effect of season and diet on heart rate and blood pressure in female red deer (Cervus elaphus) anaesthetised with medetomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam.

Temperate zone ungulates like red deer (Cervus elaphus) show pronounced seasonal acclimatisation. Hypometabolism during winter is associated with cardiovascular changes, including a reduction in heart rate (fH) and temporal peripheral vasoconstriction. How anaesthesia with vasoactive substances such as medetomidine affect the seasonally acclimatised cardiovascular system is not yet known.

Arterial Blood Gases and Cardiorespiratory Parameters in Etorphine-Medetomidine-Midazolam Immobilized Free-Ranging and Game-Farmed Southern White Rhinoceroses () Undergoing Electro-Ejaculation.

With the rapid loss of individuals in the wild, semen cryopreservation has gained importance to safeguard the genetic diversity of white rhinoceroses (). For semen collection electro-ejaculation, immobilization of free-ranging individuals requires the potent opioid etorphine, which is routinely combined with azaperone, but causes hypoxemia, hypercarbia, acidemia, muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and systemic hypertension. In this study, the suitability of two alternative immobilization protocols including etorphine, medetomidine, and midazolam at different doses (high vs.

Comparison of three hematocrit measurement methods in the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

Background: Hematocrit (HCT) determination is an integral part of health and disease assessments in captive and wild white rhinoceroses. Several affordable automated hematology analyzers have been developed for in-clinic and field use and have the advantage of being able to measure a large number of additional measurands. However, the accuracy of these analyzers for rhinoceros HCT measurements has not yet been investigated.

Cardiopulmonary Parameters and Arterial Blood Gases During Etorphine-Medetomidine-Midazolam Immobilization in Free-Ranging Black Rhinoceroses () Undergoing Electro-Ejaculation-A Preliminary Study.

Conservation management interventions for the critically endangered black rhinoceros () require immobilization, which offer opportunities for semen collection and cryopreservation to establish genetic reservoirs. In free-ranging rhinoceroses, a combination of the potent opioid etorphine and the tranquilizer azaperone is routinely used for chemical immobilization but is associated with muscle rigidity and severe cardiopulmonary changes. Additionally, azaperone inhibits semen emission.

Describing acid-base balance using three different methods of analysis in a feline acute haemorrhage-resuscitation model.

Objective: To describe acid-base status using the Henderson-Hasselbalch, Stewart and semi-quantitative methods of analysis in a feline haemorrhage-resuscitation model.

Study Design: Randomized crossover study.

Animals: A total of six domestic cats (mean age, 21 months; weight, 4.

Comparison of the Cardiovascular Effects of Two Medetomidine Doses Combined with Tiletamine-Zolazepam for the Immobilization of Red Deer Hinds (Cervus elaphus).

Wild animal immobilization often requires high doses of α2-adrenoceptor agonists. Despite their desired sedative and analgetic effects, well-recognized cardiovascular side effects, such as hypertension and bradycardia, remain a major concern. We compared the effect of two medetomidine doses on intra-arterial blood pressure and heart rate in 13 captive, female red deer (Cervus elaphus) immobilized during winter.

Investigation of biomarkers for impending fluid overload in a feline acute haemorrhage-resuscitation model.

Objective: To determine biomarkers for impending fluid overload during intravenous fluid administration in a feline haemorrhage-resuscitation model.

Study Design: Randomized crossover study.

Animals: A group of six domestic cats (mean age and weight: 21 months; 4.

Muscle tremors observed in white rhinoceroses immobilised with either etorphine-azaperone or etorphine-midazolam: An initial study.

Etorphine-azaperone is the most commonly used drug combination for chemical immobilisation of free-ranging white rhinoceroses, but causes several profound physiological disturbances, including muscle tremors. The addition of benzodiazepine sedatives, such as midazolam, has been proposed to reduce the muscular rigidity and tremors in immobilised rhinoceroses. Twenty-three free-ranging, sub-adult white rhinoceros bulls were darted and captured using a combination of etorphine plus either azaperone or midazolam.

CHALLENGES TO ANIMAL WELFARE DURING TRANSPORTATION OF WILD MAMMALS: A REVIEW (1990-2020).

Wild mammal transport is an important component of conservation translocation as well as the economic wildlife trade. This article reviews the physiological responses to transport that have been measured in wild mammalian species, factors associated with these responses, and interventions that have been applied to mitigate these responses. By organizing the literature review along the "five domains model" of animal welfare, namely, the physical-functional domains (nutrition, environment, health, behavior) and the mental domain (mental state), it can be demonstrated that wild mammal transport is associated with challenges to ensuring positive animal welfare in all five domains.

A Comparison of Hematological, Immunological, and Stress Responses to Capture and Transport in Wild White Rhinoceros Bulls () Supplemented With Azaperone or Midazolam.

Capture and transport are essential procedures for the management and conservation of southern white rhinoceroses (), but are associated with stress-induced morbidity and mortality. To improve conservation efforts, it is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of rhinoceros stress responses and investigate drug combinations that could reduce these responses. In this study we measured rhinoceros stress responses to capture and transport by quantifying hematological and immunological changes together with adrenal hormone concentrations.

Midazolam Alters Acid-Base Status Less than Azaperone during the Capture and Transport of Southern White Rhinoceroses ().

Acidemia represents a major life-threatening factor during rhinoceros capture. The acid-base status during rhinoceros transport is unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe changes in acid-base status during rhinoceros capture and transport and compare these changes between rhinoceroses sedated with azaperone or midazolam.

Development of a severity scoring system for acute haemorrhage in anaesthetized domestic cats: the CABSS score.

Objective: To determine whether physiological, haematological, biochemical or electrolyte variables can predict severe haemorrhage in cats.

Study Design: Randomized crossover study whereby each cat underwent mild and severe haemorrhage, with a 2 month period between events.

Animals: A group of six domestic cats aged 21 ± 1 months and weighing 4.

CHALLENGES TO ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATED WITH CAPTURE AND LONG ROAD TRANSPORT IN BOMA-ADAPTED BLACK () AND SEMI-CAPTIVE WHITE () RHINOCEROSES.

Capture and transport are part of translocation and expose animals to a variety of stressors that can lead to morbidity and mortality. We aimed to establish a better understanding of the physiologic responses to capture and transport in black () and white () rhinoceroses in Southern Africa. Fourteen adult black rhinoceroses were transported 600 km by vehicle and 32 white rhinoceroses (24 adults and 8 juveniles) were transported 1,300 km by vehicle.

Etorphine-Ketamine Constant Rate Infusion for Maintenance of Anaesthesia in a Compromised White Rhinoceros ().

A subadult white rhinoceros bull presented for oesophageal endoscopic evaluation and foreign body removal under general anaesthesia. The animal had a history of nasal and oral regurgitation of water and ingesta with weight-loss for 6 days prior to the procedure and had been diagnosed with oesophageal obstruction caused by a bailing wire. Anaesthesia was induced with intramuscular etorphine and azaperone delivered remotely by dart, followed by an intravenous bolus of ketamine.

Seasonal Variations in Heart Rate Variability as an Indicator of Stress in Free-Ranging Pregnant Przewalski's Horses () within the Hortobágy National Park in Hungary.

Ecosystems with seasonal fluctuations in climate and food availability present physiological challenges to resident mammals and may cause "stress." The two predominant physiological responses to stressors are (1) the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and (2) the modulation of the autonomic nervous system. To date, the primary indicator for "stress" in wildlife- and zoo animal research are glucocorticoid levels.

Anatomic and histologic features and ultrasonographic appearance of the collateral ligaments of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints in cadaveric limbs from horses without lameness.

Objective: To describe the anatomic and histologic features of the collateral ligaments (CLs) of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints in cadaveric limbs obtained from nonlame horses and to compare the histologic findings with the ultrasonographic appearance of the CLs.

Sample: Medial and lateral CLs of the MCP and MTP joints of 28 limbs (16 forelimbs and 12 hind limbs) from 9 adult nonlame horses euthanized for reasons unrelated to the study.

Procedures: 26 limbs of 8 horses were examined by ultrasonography immediately after euthanasia.