Beavers (Castor fiber)

Beavers (Castor fiber)

Table of doses for beavers

Drug	Dose	Comments
Anaesthetics: Gaseous anaesthesia can be used in all species and in most it is the preferred method
Ketamine + diazepam	Sedation: Ketamine (12.5 mg/kg) + diazepam (0.2 mg/kg) i.m.	Sedation generally occurs within 15-20 minutes after which anaesthesia can be induced using isoflurane delivered in 100% oxygen via a facemask
Ketamine + medetomidine	Ketamine (7.5 mg/kg) + medetomidine (0.07 mg/kg) i.m.	No problems were associated with this regime
Ketamine + butorphanol + medetomidine	Ketamine (5 mg/kg) + butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg) + medetomidine (0.05 mg/kg) i.m.	Mean induction time was 8.4 ± 5.0 minutes
Ketamine + butorphanol + medetomidine + midazolam	Ketamine (5 mg/kg) + butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg) + medetomidine (0.05 mg/kg) + midazolam (0.25 mg/kg) i.m.	Mean induction time was 7.8 ± 2.6 minutes Note that better muscle relaxation was achieved with this regime compared with ketamine + butorphanol + medetomidine
Atipamezole	5x dose (mg/kg) medetomidine used a	Reversal of medetomidine: 5 times the medetomidine dose (i.e. equal volume of the 5 mg/ml atipamezole solution) In common with most species, a delay in reversal of medetomidine of at least 20 minutes after the administration of combinations with ketamine is recommended

References and further reading

a Ranheim B, Rosell F, Haga HA and Arnemo JM (2004) Field anaesthetic and surgical techniques for implantation of intraperitoneal radio transmitters in Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) Wildlife. Biology 10, 11-15.

Campbell-Palmer R, Rosell F, Naylor A et al. (2021) Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) health surveillance in Britain: Assessing a disjunctive reintroduced population. Vet Record 118, 8.

Campbell-Palmer R and Rosell F (2015) Captive care and welfare considerations for beavers. Zoo Biology 34, 101-109.

Saunders R (2016) Other insectivores and rodents. In: BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, 2nd edition, ed. E Mullineaux and E Keeble, pp. 152-175 BSAVA Publications, Gloucester

Useful websites

https://www.bsavalibrary.com/

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/