CARDIORESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF VATINOXAN IN BLESBOK () IMMOBILIZED WITH THIAFENTANIL-MEDETOMIDINE.

Combinations of a low dose of opioid, such as thiafentanil, and a high dose of medetomidine, are increasingly being used for immobilization of African ungulates. Both drugs can have undesirable cardiorespiratory effects. In this study we assessed whether vatinoxan, a peripherally acting alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist, can be used to alleviate some of these effects without affecting the immobilization quality.