Field Use of Isoflurane for Safe Squirrel and Woodrat Anesthesia
Parker WT, Muller LI, Gerhardt RR, O'Rourke DP, Ramsay EC. 2008. Field Use of Isoflurane for Safe Squirrel and Woodrat Anesthesia. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 72(5):1262-1266
ABSTRACT: We evaluated a chamber and nose cone method of isoflurane delivery for anesthetizing eastern gray squirrels (Seiurus carolinensis; summer n = 43, winter n = 48) and Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister, summer n = 24, winter n = 13) for use when pain or stress was possible from sampling procedures. Mean induction time for squirrels (from beginning of isoflurane administration to safe removal from trap), was 4.63 ? 0.58 minutes. Squirrels awoke more quickly in summer (1.40 ? 0.15 min) than in winter (3.62 ? 0.24 min) after removal of the nose cone. We manually restrained woodrats and administered the nose cone for 0.5 minutes to each animal. Woodrats awoke after 4.76 ? 0.58 minutes following the final dose of isoflurane for both seasons. These methods are useful for working with small mammals in the field and provide an appropriate anesthetic when there may be more than slight pain or distress.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Parker, William; Muller, Lisa; Gerhardt, Reid; O'Rourke, Dorcas; Ramsay, Edward
- Units
- BISO
- Keywords
- Allegheny woodrat, anesthesia, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, BISO, isoflurane, mammals, Neotoma mageister, SER, Southeast Region, wildlife management