VN October 2023

Oktober 2023 21 Monitoring parameters included invasive blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, blood gases and blood chemistry, SpO 2, as well as inductions and recoveries. The treated animal was still within eye view of the remainder of the herd and never required any physical restraint, even during painful procedures such as the treating of an abscess. Breathing was stable throughout the monitoring period with very good blood oxygenation and although some of the animals were mildly hypotensive (possibly as a result of the combination of medetomidine with azaperone), none exhibited blood pressures low enough to warrant reversal. Overall, the results were consistent across all sizes, genders and ages. The BAM combination was reversed with intramuscular injections of atipamezole (at 5 times the medetomidine dose) and naltrexone (at the same dose as butorphanol. Recoveries were very smooth and uneventful with complete recovery in all of the animals in under 10 minutes after the reversals were given. Dr Rogers has subsequently performed numerous standing sedations in elephants using this pre-mixed combination and says he is very happy with the consistent results he gets when using this combination in trained elephants. Overall, the premixed combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine seems to provide very good standing sedation in this large species and should prove to be particularly useful in captive settings where routine handling of the animals is often done. It provides more than adequate analgesia for mildly painful procedures and can be completely reversed quite quickly should it be necessary. For more information regarding the use of BAM, Wildlife Pharmaceuticals can be contacted at vetsupplies@wildpharm.co.za. The full results of the study as well as other publications on the use of BAM can be accessed via their website at www.wildpharm.co.za. A special thank you is noted to Camp Jabulani and Dr Peter Rogers on behalf of Wildlife Pharmaceuticals for all their invaluable assistance and the use of their elephant this research project. v Article