A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION WITH THIAFENTANIL, THIAFENTANIL-AZAPERONE, OR ETORPHINE-ACEPROMAZINE IN CAPTIVE PERSIAN FALLOW DEER (DAMA DAMA MESOPOTAMICA).

Records of 56 Persian fallow deer (Dama dama mesopotamica) immobilized for translocation were reviewed. Twenty-three were administered 0.05 ± 0.01 (mean ± SD) mg/kg thiafentanil (THIA), 20 were administered 0.045 ± 0.008 mg/kg thiafentanil combined with 0.19 ± 0.03 mg/kg azaperone (THIA-AZP), and 13 were administered 0.032 ± 0.04 mg/kg etorphine-acepromazine (ETOR-ACP) by intramuscular remote injection. Parameters recorded and compared between groups included induction and recovery times, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, reflexes, quality of immobilization, and blood concentrations of lactate and glucose. Naltrexone (THIA groups) or diprenorphine (ETOR-ACP) were administered for reversal. Mean induction time was significantly shorter in the THIA group versus the ETOR-ACP group (2.0 ± 1.3 and 4.8 ± 2.8 min, respectively), but not significantly shorter than the THIA-AZP group (2.8 ± 3.1 min). Respiratory rate was significantly higher in the THIA group in comparison to the two other groups. None of the protocols provided excellent immobilization quality, which was significantly poorer in the THIA group. Following antagonist administration, all deer from the THIA and ETOR-ACP groups recovered quickly, while there were five perianesthetic morbidity and mortality cases in the THIA-AZP group. Mean recovery time was significantly shorter in the THIA group versus the THIA-AZP and ETOR-ACP groups (0.5 ± 0.3, 1.1 ± 0.8, and 2.3 ± 1.1 min, respectively). In conclusion, the use of THIA provided faster induction and recovery, with less respiratory depression, but poorer immobilization. The THIA-AZP combination should be used with caution in Persian fallow deer until further investigation.