Chemical Restraint

Study set four for wildlife techniques exam 1

The FDA…

Regulates the use of drugs, determines how it can be used, makes labels and directions

The DEA…

Is charged with enforcement under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (have to keep detailed records about use of drugs)

Sedation

State of calmness in which the animal is relaxed, awake, and unconcerned about its surroundings and may be indifferent to minor pain

Analgesia

Loss of sensitivity to pain

General anesthesia

Loss of the ability to perceive pain associated with loss of consciousness

Adjuvant

Pharmacological agent added to a drug to increase or aid its effect

High therapeutic index

Want a large difference between what is safe and what is lethal

Potent

A small dose will work

Rapid, smooth onset

Drug acts quickly and doesn’t cause lots of adverse effects

Good muscle relaxation

Don’t want them to be stiff (can cause issues with bleeding), need them to be able to move around

Minimal depression of cardiovascular or respiratory systems

Can’t avoid it completely

Analgesia at subanesthetic levels

Loss of pain without them going under

Retention of reflexes

Should still have involuntary reflexes like swallowing

Cause minimal fear, pain, or distress

Like bad side effects

Antagonist available

Reversal drug to bring it back out of drug effects

Rapid, smooth emergence

Again with minimal side effects so that they are safe after

Rapid degradation

Body will metabolize drugs quickly

Highly water-soluble, stable in solution, and long shelf-life

Makes it easier to store drugs

Produces an amnestic effect

They forget it happened

You want drugs to be safe for…

Both animals and humans (with a low potential for human abuse)

Schedule I

No currently accepted medical use and high potential for abuse

Schedule II

High potential for abuse, leading to dependence

Schedule III

Moderate to low potential for dependence

Schedule IV & V

Low potential for dependence

Neuromuscular blocking agents

Generally inferior to modern drugs, causes paralysis. Very low therapeutic index

Tranquilizers/sedatives

Primarily used in combination with other drugs

Major tranquilizers

Counteract narcotic respiratory depression, not controlled substances, commonly used by vets

Minor tranquilizers

Anticonvulsant adjuvant to the cyclohexane anesthetics, can be controlled substances

Alpha-adrenergic agonists

Potent sedatives, can be completely antagonized, combined with opioids or cyclohexanes

Barbiturates

Sedative-hypnotic drugs

Cyclohexanes

Dissociative anesthetics, combined with tranquilizers or sedatives, high therapeutic index, can respond to light

Opioids

Major side effect renarcotization, high potency, used in combo with other things, prolonged recovery time, increased adverse effects

Information required for calculating drug doses

Weight, drug concentration, dose rate

Considerations prior to immobilization

Species, age, season, sex, weight, physical and physiological condition, weather and hazards, drug fit

Intramuscular injection

Meaty parts (hindquarters & shoulder area), avoid bony parts and areas of large fat deposits, need to have animal from side view and not head on

Intravenous injection

Typically reserved for antagonist, Cephalic vein (elbow), jugular (neck), femoral (leg/femur)

1st rule of the capture event

Most handling effort involved in the immobilization process

2nd rule of the capture event

Plan ahead and be prepared

3rd rule of the capture event

Immobilized animal intrinsically and economically valuable

4th rule of the capture event

Keep records for research and future immobilizations

Position body

Nothing impeding ability to breathe, laid on side, relatively flat ground

Cover eyes

Protect them from sun, help reduce drying of eyes, keep dirt out, reduce stress

Hobble legs

Tie legs to prevent them from kicking or running away

Check vital signs

Very regularly

Check for wounds, injuries, and general condition

Not necessarily caused by trapping process

Do not make loud or sharp noises

Don’t want to stress them out further

Before an animal recovers you should…

Look for all possible hazards that they could harm themselves with

Syringes and needles

Sterilized and disposable, use proper gauge

Remote delivery system (RDS)

Any kind of mechanical device capable of administering a single dose (ex. dart gun)

Pole syringes

Range of sizes, reach out and poke them

Blow pipes

Quieter, used for animals already trapped in some way, range up to 30m

Dart guns

Range up to 100m, rifles and pistols

Farthest range RDS to shortest range RDS

Dart rifle, dart pistol, blow pipe, pole syringe