Alfaxalone-butorphanol-dexmedetomidine anaesthesia in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis ) undergoing skin biopsy: two cases

d'Ovidio, Dario; Noviello, Emilio; Nocerino, Maurizio; Adami, Chiara (2015). Alfaxalone-butorphanol-dexmedetomidine anaesthesia in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis ) undergoing skin biopsy: two cases. Veterinary Record Case Reports, 3(1), e000192. British Veterinary Association 10.1136/vetreccr-2015-000192

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Skunks are becoming increasingly popular as pets. As such, they often undergo a variety of surgical procedures. Two pet skunks undergoing a dermatological examination, including skin biopsy, were anaesthetised with a combination of dexmedetomidine (0.02 mg/kg), butorphanol (0.3 mg/kg), and alfaxalone (4 mg/kg), all administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was characterised by rapid onset, absence of detectable side effects and fast recovery after atipamezole administration. Biopsies and toe-pinch did not elicit cardiorespiratory responses, nor did it result in movements or lightening of the anaesthetic depth. Both skunks recovered uneventfully, and showed normal appetite and regular defecation within eight hours following surgery. However, both the animals experienced mild hypothermia at recovery. The dexmedetomidine-alfaxalone-butorphanol combination produced satisfactory anaesthesia in the two skunks, object of this report. This anaesthetic protocol may be used in this species to provide immobility, myorelaxation, unconsciousness and analgesia during skin biopsy or other minor surgical procedures.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > DKV - Anaesthesiology
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV)

UniBE Contributor:

Adami, Chiara

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
600 Technology > 630 Agriculture

ISSN:

2052-6121

Publisher:

British Veterinary Association

Language:

English

Submitter:

Helene Rohrbach Rüegsegger

Date Deposited:

11 Feb 2016 15:42

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:51

Publisher DOI:

10.1136/vetreccr-2015-000192

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.75480

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/75480

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