Captive management Flashcards
main focus of captive breeding then vs now
the main focus of captive breeding used to be reintroductions into the wild
now we recognize that conservation, research, and education are the only likely way to save wild species
how did the care of captive animals shift from before?
used to make it easy to maintain by using cement floors etc, now we use more naturalistic habitats
what did the shift of how we care for captive animals allow zoos to do?
this shift allowed zoos to demonstrate the complex interrelationships between plants, animals, their environment and try to accommodate the social, behavioral, and psychological needs of different animal species
AZA
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
independent accrediting organization for the best zoos and aquariums in America and the world assuring the public that when they visit an AZA-accredited facility it meets the highest standards for animal care and welfare
< 10% of the 2,800 wildlife exhibitors licensed by the US Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act meet the more comprehensive standards of AZA accreditation
AAZK
American Association of Zookeepers
AZVT
Association of Zoo Vet Techs
WCS
Wildlife Conservation Society
mission is to save wildlife and wild places across the globe
biggest conservation organization in the US
medicine used as an integrative part of conservation
what are the 4 biggest issues facing wildlife that the WCS are committed to address in order to protect biodiversity?
climate change, natural resource exploitation, connection between wildlife health and human health, and the sustainable development of human livelihoods
WDA
Wildlife Disease Association
AAWV
American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians
species survival plan (SSP)
manages specific and typically threatened or endangered species
each has a Studbook and a Breeding and Transfer Plan with recommendations to ensure sustainability of a healthy genetically diverse population
what do SSP programs do?
significantly contribute to field conservation efforts, species recovery, veterinary care for wildlife disease issues, etc
ex: determine conservation priorities, develop a breed and transfer plan in coordination with the population management center, develop non-breeding plans in coordination with reproductive management center
population management center (PMC)
Lincoln Park Zoo does genetic analyses
reproductive management center (RMC)
provides scientific-based information to AZA facilities on reproductive management to support animal population viability, sustainability, and well-being
pros of captive breeding
some species that are extinct in the wild thrive in zoos, successful reintroductions to the wild from captive breeding can be done, and public education
cons of captive breeding
focus is on a few charismatic endangered species, genetic diversity may have sunk too low to be regenerated, cost diverts resources from ecosystem/habitat conservation, gives a false sense that the battle against extinction is won
captive animal habitats
naturalistic habits with more space, vegetation, and intermixed species
animals seen to thrive in these environments: exhibit natural behaviors and fewer stereotypic behaviors
pros of naturalistic habitats
more attention being paid to megafauna
mental health improved along with medical conditions that older exhibits caused
much better experience for public as well as interest in conservation
megafauna
large animals > 1000lbs
mixed species exhibits
with naturalistic habitats we can educate the public not only about individual animals but the ecosystem and relationships
more animals together means more interactions so important to understand habitats and relationships in the wild
challenges of mixed species exhibits
inter and intra species aggression, possibility of environmental accidents
captive animal observations
can be a challenge
solution: training animals to come into holding areas at night and train certain behaviors such as opening mouth to check teeth
parasitism and hoofstock
combating parasites among hoofstock can be challenging due to large pasture size, large herd size, mixed species pastures, and active breeding programs
dewormers face the challenge of drug resistance so need to rotate dewormers
rotate treatment schedules if possible and rotate pasture
behavior training in the past
trick training was the norm
behavior training now
we train to improve zoo medicine, also includes training normal behaviors for public education
we want to improve emotional state of animals
which type of training do we use in the zoo world?
operant conditioning
positive reinforcement
something the subject wants that occurs in conjunction with an act that tends to increase the probability that the act will occur again
extinction in operant conditioning
method of eliminating a behavior by not reinforcing it any longer
bridge in operant conditioning
a sound or action that tells the animal that it just did something correct and reinforcement is on the way
cue in operant conditioning
a signal that will elicit a specific behavior or reflex as a result of learned association
target in operant conditioning
a prop (or part of the body) that pinpoints a critical location for an animal in training
station training
station training is similar to a target because the animal is trained to target to an actual area
shaping
shifting an act one small step at a time towards an ultimate goal
capturing a behavior
trainer waits for the animal to offer a behavior then reinforces the response
tools used for immobilization
squeeze chute or tamer
tamer is used for a large number of preventions without full anesthesia
training can be done to accept an injection or oral pre-anesthetic to make procedures less stressful
anesthesia “knock down”
only done when absolutely necessary
modern immobilizing techniques are more humane methods for handling wild animals and has decreased side effects of drugs and mortality
can oral dosing using operant conditioning be done?
yes but usually not repeatable and can cause vomiting concerns
hand injection for anesthesia knock down
usually used for smaller mammals in nets, squeeze cages, or operant conditioning
pole syringe
form of remote drug delivery
comes in different sizes, common for techs to do on their own
blow dart
form of remote drug delivery
used for shorter distances and require more skill
usually causes less stress/pain because of less force
darting systems
form of remote drug delivery
various brand names
range from heavy duty rifles that use .22-caliber system to lightweight pistols powered by air or CO2
dart types range from lightweight air-pressured systems to charge-powered injection systems
cap-chur
1st complete remote drug delivery system
used mostly with escapes or animals with tough hides
uses explosive charge in dart with CO2 pistol while others use air pressure to expel drug
which type of darting system do we have at school?
tel-inject with foot pump
what are the different parts of the dart?
rubber sleeve that covers the injection port in the needle, needle tip, drug in syringe, plunger, air pressure cavity, tail
what is the goal of using anesthetic drugs?
rapidly move the animal into stage III anesthesia depth
underdosing can leave them in stage II where they’re conscious and hyper-excited which increases susceptibility to hyperthermia, trauma, and capture myopathy
why is drug potency important?
we only want to have to use 1 dart
which types of anesthetic drugs are preferred?
ones that have antagonists for reversal
dissociative anesthetics
hallucinogens that cause a detached feeling or dissociation with environment by stopping signals from the brain
causes a cataleptic stage which causes rigidity
Ketamine
most versatile dissociative anesthetic
seizures can result when used alone
antagonist: Yohimbine
Telazol
dissociative anesthetic
combination of Tiletamine and Zolazepam
2.5x more potent than Ketamine
wide safety margin
no antagonist
Doxapram can be used to counter some effects but isn’t a true reversal
Xylazine
non-narcotic sedative
has analgesic properties
antagonist: Yohimbine
Dexmedetomidine
non-narcotic sedative
10-20x more potent than Xylazine
antagonist: Atapamezole (Antisedan)
Butorphanol
non-narcotic sedative
enhances xylazine and improves quality of immobilization
which drugs are non-narcotics typically used in conjunction with?
potent opioids
Diazepam
tranquilizer/sedative
brand name: Valium
Midazolam
tranquilizer/sedative
brand name: Versed
Zolazepam
tranquilizer/sedative
newer benzodiazepine
Acepromazine
tranquilizer/sedative
BAM
tranquilizer/sedative
combo of Butorphanol, Azaperone, and Medetomidine
used for a wide variety of species
smoother recovery
Azaperone is a neuroleptic with sedative effects
neuroleptic
a drug that decreases nerve function
NMB
neuromuscular blocking/paralytic drugs
ex: Succinylcholine (muscle relaxant), Gallamine
used primarily in crocodillians
antagonist: Neostigmine
Etorphine HCl (M-99)
opioid
> 1,000x more potent than morphine
used in elephants, rhinos, and zebras
rapid induction
good analgesic effect
antagonist: Diprenorphine for animals, Naloxone for humans and animals
Carfentanil
most potent opioid (10,000x morphine potency)
CNS depressant
reversal: Naltrexone (animals) and Naloxone (humans)
main immobilization drug used in Cervids
related to Fentanyl
wear safety gear when handling: gloves, goggles, face shield
what symptoms does Carfentanil exposure cause in humans?
respiratory depression/arrest, exhaustion, disorientation, pinpoint pupils
why is Naltrexone a longer acting antagonist?
to prevent renarcotizing
Carfentanil HCl
good analgesic but poor muscle relaxant
underdosing can lead to prolonged induction
can cause tachycardia/excitability so vet team needs to be quiet while working with animal
long duration
causes inhibition of thermoregulation
renarcotizing
occurs in long duration narcotic drugs up to 72 hours after
CS: star gazing, head pressing
Thiafentanyl
2x as potent as etorphine but less potent than carfentanil
effective in rhinos but not zebras
rapid induction
potent analgesic effect
rapid recovery following reversal
antagonist: Naltrexone
can be used in combination with other drugs like etorphine
immobilization process
everyone has a plan
1. particularly when using carfentanil: approach animal quietly
2. position the animal
3. apply horn guards/blinds
establish an escape route
4. can intubate or ETT is placed nasally
pull out tongue to establish airway and monitor anesthetic depth, breathing shouldn’t be noisy
check mm and CRT, watch temp
5. reversal is given 1/2 IV and 1/2 IM
how should the animal be positioned once anesthetized?
if it is a ruminant the animal is put in sternal recumbency with the head lifted above the rumen and nose pointed down to prevent regurgitation
always roll over abdomen
stress physiology
stress can lead to hyperthermia, circulatory deficiency, shock, and death
disturbance of thermoregulation can cause hyper or hypothermia
what does hyperthermia cause?
vasodilation
one of the 1st signs: increased CO2 levels, shallow breathing
tx: Dantrolene (skeletal muscle relaxant)
what does hypothermia cause?
vasoconstriction
slows or stops vital metabolic processes and leads to bradycardia unresponsive to anticholinergics
shock
life threatening condition causing failure of the CVS leading to hypoxia and death
can occur due to stress physiology
activation of stress
- CNS perceives threat
- sympathetic nervous system releases catecholamines (epinephrine or adrenaline, norepinephrine, dopamine) which increases HR, BP, and RR; and causes blood to divert to heart and muscle
what does long term stress cause?
catecholamine deplete which leads to decreased BP, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, cardiac failure, and shock
rhabdomyolysis
capture myopathy
life threatening syndromes caused by sympathetic exhaustion from sustained stress combined with muscular exertion
related to duration and intensity of physical effort expended by the animal during immobilization
what does intense/sustained muscular exertion lead to?
an increase in lactic acid from anaerobic oxidation of muscle plus losing bases through salivation and sweating —> metabolic acidosis and eventual heart failure because the heart muscle tissue is destroyed by lactic acid
what does destruction of the skeletal muscle lead to?
release of Ca, K, and myoglobin
Ca and K sensitize the heart to epinephrine leading to ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest
myoglobin is nephrotoxic and leads to kidney failure
myoglobin
O2 transporting pigment of the muscle
what levels should be checked in the field to ensure that capture myopathy is not occurring?
AST, LDH, CPK
AST
aspertate aminotransferase
enzyme in tissues and body fluids, damage will increase levels
LDH
lactic acid dehydrogenase
CPK
creatine phosphokinase
indicates intense muscle contraction
how can we minimize stress pathology?
avoid underdosing opioids, keep physical manipulation to a minimum, decrease sensory stimulation, be aware that animals suffering from injury/illness will be stressed, provide stress free post-restraint environment for up to 6 months, avoid capture of pregnant or lactating females
Haldol is effective for suppressing alarm response in hoofstock
