Evaluation of the anaesthetic effects of combinations of ketamine, medetomidine, romifidine and butorphanol in European badgers ( Meles meles )

To evaluate the effects of three anaesthetic combinations in adult European badgers ( Meles meles ). Prospective, randomized, blinded, experimental trial. Animals  Sixteen captive adult badgers. The badgers were each anaesthetized by intramuscular injection using the three techniques assigned in random order: romifidine 0.18 mg kg −1, ketamine 10 mg kg −1 and butorphanol 0.1 mg kg −1 (RKB); medetomidine 0.1 mg kg −1, ketamine 9 mg kg −1 and butorphanol 0.1 mg kg −1 (MKB); and medetomidine 0.1 mg kg −1 and ketamine 10 mg kg −1 (MK). Initial drug doses were calculated based on a body mass of 10 kg. Additional anaesthetic requirements, time to drug effect, duration of action and recovery from anaesthesia were recorded. Heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate and rhythm, rectal and subcutaneous microchip temperature and oxygen saturation were recorded every 5 minutes. Depth of anaesthesia was assessed using: muscle tone; palpebral and pedal reflexes; and tongue relaxation at these time points. Blood samples and a tracheal aspirate were obtained under anaesthesia. Atipamezole was administered if the badger had not recovered within 60 minutes Parametric data were analysed using anova for repeated measures, and nonparametric data using Friedman's, and Cochran's Q tests: p < 0.05 was considered significant. All combinations produced good or excellent muscle relaxation throughout the anaesthetic period. RKB had the shortest duration of anaesthesia (16.8 minutes compared with MKB 25.9 minutes and MK 25.5 minutes) and antagonism was not required. RKB depressed respiratory rate less than MK and MKB. There was no significant difference between techniques for heart rate and rhythm. All combinations provided anaesthetic conditions suitable for sampling and identification procedures in adult badgers. The RKB protocol provided a significantly shorter period of anaesthesia when compared with the combinations containing medetomidine.