Preliminary comparison of four anaesthetic techniques in badgers (Meles meles)

Objective To investigate the use of four ketamine-based anaesthetic combinations in wild badgers. Study design Prospective, randomized. clinical trial. Animals Twenty-four adult badgers. Materials and methods Animals were divided into four groups of six and were anaesthetized using either intramuscular (IM) ketamine alone (2 0 mg kg(-1)), ketamine (15 mg kg(-1) IM) and midazolam (0.4 mg kg(-1) IM), ketamine (10 mg kg(-1) IM) and midazolam (1 mg kg(-1) IM) or ketamine (5 mg kg(-1) IM) and medetomidine (80 mug kg(-1) IM) antagonized with atipamezole (0.8 mg kg(-1); IM). Features of each technique, i.e. quality of induction, maintenance and recovery, and the need for additional doses, were assessed using a simple descriptive scale. Physiological variables, i.e. rectal temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure, were also recorded. Results Combinations of ketamine and midazolam did not produce adequate anaesthesia. The combination of medetomidine and ketamine had few advantages over ketamine alone. Conclusions and clinical relevance These data will contribute to a wider study attempting to refine anaesthetic techniques in badgers.