Contenção química de tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) e tamanduá-mirim (Tamandua tetradactyla Linnaeus, 1758) com a associação de dois protocolos

Abstract

Interspecific allometric extrapolation is a technique used to obtain drug dosages for non-studied species’ basal metabolic rate (mg/kcal), such as tamanduas and giant-anteaters, based on dosages obtained for well-studied species, like dogs. Adding an α-2 agonist to tiletamine and zolazepam creates a synergic association and enhances sedative effects in reduced volumes, allowing to chemically restrain bigger animals more effectively. This study used two different protocols, ZAX (xylazine, atropine, tiletamine and zolazepam) and ZAD (detomidine, atropine, tiletamine and zolazepam), in Tamandua tetradactyla (Tamandua) and Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant-anteater), evaluating their effects on heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, rectal temperature and non-invasive arterial pressure on 10-minute intervals. In addition, loss of straightening postural reflex, abnormal ambulation and pelvic and thoracic limb myorelaxation were timed for every individual. Allometrically extrapolated dosages for Myrmecophaga tridactyla, based on the canine model, provided satisfactory, spontaneous breathing chemical restraint without complications, indicated for small clinical procedures or as pre-anesthetic medication. Response to painful stimuli was unsatisfactory for both protocols (ZAX and ZAD) indicating the need for analgesic drugs in case of painful procedures. In Tamandua tetradactyla, no significant difference was observed between the studied parameters in both ZAX and ZAD protocols. This study shows that both protocols can be successfully applied for chemical restraint or sedation with spontaneous breathing myorelaxation and satisfactory analgesia for small and non-painful procedures, or as pre-anesthetic medication aiming at a balanced anesthesia. Animals sedated with ZAD had increased chemical restraint average times when compared to those sedated with ZAX.