4.2
Guidelines for Seal Anaesthesia (Table)

Leopard seals

1.2 - 1.5 mg/kg Tiletamine/Zolazepam (100 mg/ml) in a 1:1 ratio administered intramuscularly via Telinject dart.

Atropine (16 mg/ml) 0.015 mg/kg administered with dart.

Note: dose rate employed on majority of procedures is 1.3 mg/kg and this provides reliable anaesthesia for up to 35 minutes facilitating blood and biopsy collection, gluing of satellite tracking devices, and morphometric measurement collection.

(Higgins, Rogers, Irvine & Hall-Aspland Marine Mammal Science  2002, 18(2), 483-499

Recovery usually complete by 90 minutes post-darting.

(NB Xylazine should not be used for this species (Mitchell P and Burton H Veterinary Record 1991, 129, 332-336)

For reversal 0.004 - 0.008mg/kg Flumazenil (0.1mg/ml) if required, intramuscularly (in the event of a seal going to the water) or intravenously (in the event of anaesthetic complications).

Note: this protocol is only partially reversal. Flumazenil reverses the Zolazepam component only.

Elephant seals

1) Zoletil 1mg/kg given by IM (intra-muscular)

(Woods, R. et al, Br. vet.J. 1996; 152, 213-224;

Woods, R et al, Veterinary Record 1994, 135, 572-577,

Woods, R et al, Australian Veterinary Journal 1995, 72, 165-171;

Robin, E. et al, 1963, Am.J.Phsiol. 205, 1175-1177

2) Zoletil 0.5mg/kg given by IV (intravenous)

(McMahon, C R et al, The Veterinary Record 2000, 146, 251-254)

Administer respiratory stimulant:  Doxapram 0.5-4mg/kg into the extradural intravertebral vein

(Woods, R et al, 1996, The Veterinary Record 138, 514-517;

Woods, R et al Australian Veterinary Journal 1995, 72, 165-171)

Crabeater seals

Ketamine 6mg/kg and Diazapam 0.2mg/kg given IM; Atropine (1ml of solution at 0.65 mg/ml)

(Shaughnessy, P.  Wildlife Research 1991 18, 165-168; and pers.comm.)

(NB: Midazolam at 0.25-0.35mg/kg may replace Diazapam, due to its more rapid and predictable absorption following IM, and its more rapid elimination from the body (Woods, R et al, Journal of Wildlife Diseases 1989, 25, 586-590))

None known

Weddell seals

Regime 1:

Ketamine 3mg/kg and Diazapam 0.2mg/kg

(The comment NB above also applies)

(Gales, N and Burton H.  Australian Wildlife Research 1988, 15, 423-433; Phelan J, Green K. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 1992, 28, 230-235;

Bornemann, H Plotz, J.  Wildlife Society Bulletin 1993, 21, 437-441)

Regime 2:

Administered intramuscularly - Midazolam (15-20 mg/ml) at a dose range of 0.25-0.4 mg/kg and Ketamine (150mg/ml) at a dose rate of 2.0-6.0 mg/kg) and Atropine (16mg/ml) at a dose rate of 0.015mg/kg.  Facilitates light sedation. 

Yohimbine 0.06-mg.kg-0.5mg/kg (Bornemann H and Plotz J Wildlife Society Bulletin 1993, 21, 437-441)

Reversal for Regime 2.

0.004 - 0.008mg/kg Flumazenil (0.1mg/ml) if required, intramuscularly (in the event of a seal going to the water) or intravenously (in the event of anaesthetic complications).

Note: this protocol is only partially reversal. Flumazenil reverses the Zolazepam component only.

Fur seals

Ketamine at 7.3mg/kg and Xylazine at 0.62 mg/kg given IM.

(Boyd, I. et al. Marine Mammal Science 1990, 6, 135-145)

(Zoletil induces respiratory depression: Boyd, I. Et al, Marine Mammal Science 1990, 6, 135-145)

Note: favoured method for fur seal anaesthesia is by gas.  (Gales, N.J., and Mattlin, R.H. Marine Mammal Science 1988, 14, 355-361)

Flumazenil 1mg IM for every 20-25mg benzodiazopine used for complete reversal of these drugs or 0.05-1mg given IM during procedures on fur seals (Karesh W et al Annual Meeting of the American Association of Zoo Vets Houston 1997, 291-295)