SERIAL IMMOBILIZATION OF A BRAZILIAN TAPIR (TAPIRUS

TERRESTRUS) WITH ORAL DETOMIDINE AND ORAL CARFENTANIL

Author(s): Christal G. PollockD.V.M., Dipl. A.B.V.P. (Avian) and Edward C. RamsayD.V.M., Dipl.
A.C.Z.M.
Source: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 34(4):408-410. 2003.
Published By: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/01-061
URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1638/01-061

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SERIAL IMMOBILIZATION OF A BRAZILIAN TAPIR
(TAPIRUS TERRESTRUS) WITH ORAL DETOMIDINE AND
ORAL CARFENTANIL
Christal G. Pollock, D.V.M., Dipl. A.B.V.P. (Avian), and Edward C. Ramsay, D.V.M., Dipl.
A.C.Z.M.
Abstract: Detomidine (0.17 6 0.03 mg/kg, p.o.) followed in 20 min by carfentanil (7.88 6 1.85 mg/kg, p.o.) reliably
restrained an adult Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestrus) eight times for short medical procedures. Detomidine caused
head droop, sawhorse stance, ataxia or head pressing (or both). Sternal or lateral recumbency was reached within 10.75
6 7.6 min of carfentanil administration. Recoveries after i.v. and s.c. administration of yohimbine and naltrexone were
smooth and rapid, with the tapir standing within 2–5 min.
Key words: Tapir, Tapirus terrestrus, transmucosal, anesthesia, detomidine, carfentanil.
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Many tapirs (Tapirus sp.) will lie down during
vigorous brushing over the back, neck, and lower
jaw and allow such minor procedures as physical
examination to be performed. Some tapirs, espe-
cially males, can suddenly ram a person with their
large head and may bite viciously,4 so they are rou-
tinely immobilized for most procedures. Their skin
is quite thick, and drugs are usually delivered re-
motely, although pole syringes and squeeze cages
have been used.4
Etorphine has been the agent of choice for se-
dation of adult tapirs.4 Carfentanil, administered
alone i.m. or with xylazine, butorphanol adminis-
tered i.m. alone or with xylazine or detomidine, i.m.
carfentanil–ketamine–xylazine combinations,6 and
i.m. xylazine–azaperone with subsequent i.v. keta-
mine3,8 have also been used in adult tapirs. Butor-
phanol–xylazine–ketamine combinations, adminis-
tered i.m., have been used in free-ranging tapirs
(Tapirus bairdii).2
An 8-yr-old, 230-kg female Brazilian tapir (Tap-
irus terrestrus) presented to the University of Ten-
nessee College of Veterinary Medicine in the spring
of 1999 with a chronic, recurrent facial abscess. It
was hospitalized for 40 days for radiography, sur-
gical debridement, wound management, and admin-
istration of procaine penicillin (Crysticillin, Apoth-
econ, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Plainsboro, New Jer-
sey 08536, USA; 35 ml, i.m., q. 48–72 hr).
During this time the tapir was immobilized every
From the Department of Comparative Medicine, Col-
lege of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-1071, USA. Present address
(Pollock): Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State
University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas
66506-5606, USA. Correspondence should be directed to
Dr. Pollock.
408
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 34(4): 408–410, 2003
Copyright 2003 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
second or third day for a total of 15 procedures.
Food and water were withheld 6–12 hr before each
immobilization. During the first two procedures the
tapir was darted; once with detomidine (Dormose-
dan, Pfizer Animal Health, Exton, Pennsylvania
19341, USA; 20 mg, i.m.)—butorphanol (Torbu-
gesic, Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501, USA;
40 mg, i.m.) and the second time with etorphine
(M99, Macfarlan Smith Ltd., Edinburgh,
EH112QA, United Kingdom; 2 mg, i.m.).
Both immobilizations went well, but we were
concerned that the tapir would become more ag-
gressive after repeated darting, and it was important
to maintain this individual’s mild temperament be-
cause this animal’s husbandry needs required re-
peated entry into its stall. The tapir was therefore
given an oral premedication agent followed by a
parenteral induction agent during the next four pro-
cedures. For the first immobilization, detomidine
(40 mg, p.o.) was given, followed in 10 min by
butorphanol (10 mg, i.v.). The second time, detom-
idine (20 mg p.o.) was given, followed in 10 min
by butorphanol (40 mg, i.m.) through Telinject dart
(Telinject USA, Inc., Saugus, California 91350,
USA). For the third immobilization, etorphine (1
mg, p.o.) was given, followed in 10 min by 100 mg
ketamine i.m. (Ketaset, Aveco, Fort Dodge, Iowa
50501, USA) and 1 mg etorphine, i.m. through Tel-
einject dart. Detomidine (30 mg, p.o.), followed in
10 min by etorphine (2 mg, i.m.) was the fourth
regimen used. Immobilization was satisfactory dur-
ing each event. The seventh anesthetic regimen
used 2 mg carfentanil p.o. alone. Oral premedica-
tion (detomidine; 0.17 6 0.03 mg/kg) followed in
20 min by carfentanil (7.88 6 1.85 mg/kg, p.o.) for
induction was then administered to the tapir for the
last eight immobilizations. Gloves and eye protec-
tion were always worn during superpotent opioid
use. After all immobilizations, the stalls were hosed
down thoroughly.
 POLLOCK AND RAMSAY—IMMOBILIZATION OF A BRAZILIAN TAPIR
Although transmucosal drug delivery targeted
the sublingual space, the drug was sometimes de-
posited on top of the tongue or in the buccal space.
Orally administered drugs were delivered through
syringe in a variety of vehicles, including corn syr-
up (n 5 11), peanut butter (n 5 4), 50% dextrose
(n 5 3), and honey (n 5 1), used alone or in com-
bination. Corn syrup was accepted the best. Phar-
macologic banana flavoring was offered once but
was rejected immediately. Drooling and incomplete
delivery of oral anesthetic agents was documented
five times.
With only oral carfentanil, induction time was
the longest (30 min) and transient hypermetria
(goose stepping) began 14 min after administration.
Five minutes later, ataxia, head pressing, and ex-
cessive salivation were observed. During induction,
the tapir repeatedly stood up and sat down, and it
displayed muscle rigidity. However, once induction
was complete, muscle relaxation was adequate. In-
ductions were smooth, and muscle relaxation was
excellent with the regimen of oral detomidine and
oral carfentanil used during the last eight proce-
dures. The effect of the detomidine ranged from
head droop and sawhorse stance (n 5 6), to ataxia
(n 5 1), or head pressing (n 5 1). Mean induction
time, or the time from administration of oral car-
fentanil to sternal or lateral recumbency and ade-
quate muscle relaxation was 10.75 6 7.6 min (2–
26 min).
During all immobilizations, the tapir’s body tem-
perature remained between 36.48C and 37.28C.
Heart rate was 40–55 bpm and respiratory rate was
12–15 bpm. Mucous membrane color was typically
pink, although gingival tissue was pale or blanched
twice with oral detomidine followed by oral car-
fentanil, and once with oral detomidine followed by
parenteral etorphine.
After 10–20 min of anesthesia in each of the 15
procedures, the tapir was given yohimbine (Anta-
gonil, Wildife Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Fort Collins,
Colorado 80524, USA; 0.2 mg/kg, i.v.) as a slow
bolus and naltrexone (Trexonil, Wildife Pharmaceu-
ticals; 100–200 mg; half i.v. and half s.c.). Recov-
eries were always smooth and rapid, with the tapir
standing in 2–5 min. Renarcotization was never ob-
served.
Although preanesthetic medication provides a
smoother induction and often allows the use of low-
er dosages of maintenance anesthetic agents,7 it has
rarely been given to zoo animals. Although the rea-
sons for this are varied, inability to deliver adequate
doses in a nonstressful manner has been a major
limiting factor. Training and behavioral modifica-
tion techniques have made such delivery more
409
practical. When provided, preanesthetic medication
is generally delivered by hand injection or remote
delivery. Transmucosal administration is, however,
another viable option.
Transmucosal drug administration takes advan-
tage of mucosal surfaces rich in vasculature and
lymphatics, and absorption is rapid. When drugs
are administered by buccal, lingual, conjunctival,
nasal, or rectal mucosa, the enterohepatic circula-
tion is bypassed and onset of action is also rapid.10
Stress associated with darting is also eliminated
with transmucosal administration.
The prolonged induction and muscle rigidity
seen when oral carfentanil was given alone may
also occur in rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum;
Ramsay, pers. obs.). Detomidine was added to the
regimen to increase muscle relaxation. Detomidine
was chosen on the basis of its effects on horses
when given orally (Ramsay, pers. obs.).5
Premedication with detomidine followed in 20
min by carfentanil was initially associated with a
dramatic decrease in induction time of 2–3 min.
Induction time then increased from 6 to 14 min
during the next five procedures. It was only during
the last and final detomidine–carfentanil regimen
that induction time was similar to that seen with
carfentanil alone (26 min). The reasons for this
gradual, but steady, increase in induction time are
probably multifactorial. First, as time went on, the
tapir became less compliant and salivated more
heavily, possibly in anticipation of an unpleasant
procedure. This drooling may have decreased the
amount of drug that was absorbed. Before the last
few immobilizations, the tapir began to drool even
before the syringe was inserted into its mouth. The
tapir may also have developed a tolerance for car-
fentanil over time. Regular or prolonged opioid ad-
ministration may lead to an increase in the amount
of drug required to achieve the same effect.1,9 Fur-
thermore, although we attempted to insert drugs on
mucosal surfaces with viscous, adherent vehicles,
some of the drugs may have been swallowed and
times to effect thereby prolonged by exposure to
enterohepatic circulation.10
Our findings suggest that preanesthetic medica-
tion and transmucosal drug administration are use-
ful options for inducing tapir anesthesia. Detomi-
dine, administered at 0.17 6 0.03 mg/kg p.o., fol-
lowed in 20 min by carfentanil administration at
7.88 6 1.85 mg/kg, p.o., effectively restrained an
adult tapir for short medical procedures.
LITERATURE CITED
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Received for publication 23 July 2001