R. Kastelein, Martin J. Bakker, N. Jennings, Jennifer Covi-Dijkhuizen
{"title":"Evaluating the Use of Diazepam in Stranded Dolphins and Porpoises for Husbandry and Veterinary Purposes","authors":"R. Kastelein, Martin J. Bakker, N. Jennings, Jennifer Covi-Dijkhuizen","doi":"10.1578/am.49.1.2023.94","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"We evaluated the use of diazepam (Valium®) during the rehabilitation of odontocetes (dolphins and porpoises) to facilitate husbandry and for veterinary purposes, by analyzing detailed records from a period of 14 years of the treatment of 16 stranded individuals: harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), and a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Diazepam was used occasionally (once per case or for a few days at a time) to facilitate husbandry, including for managing stressful and transitional circumstances and during transport. It was also used occasionally (once per case) for veterinary purposes, such as to reduce stress or to facilitate x-ray scanning, gastroscopy, blood sampling, or wound treatment. Diazepam was found to be effective as an anti-anxiety drug, to cause drowsiness (i.e., reduce activity levels), as a muscle relaxant, and as an appetite stimulant. The doses used were similar for husbandry and veterinary purposes (0.03 to 0.44 mg/kg body weight), and the drug was administered almost exclusively orally (via fish) or via intramuscular injection.","PeriodicalId":8219,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Mammals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8000,"publicationDate":"2023-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Aquatic Mammals","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1578/am.49.1.2023.94","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"MARINE & FRESHWATER BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
We evaluated the use of diazepam (Valium®) during the rehabilitation of odontocetes (dolphins and porpoises) to facilitate husbandry and for veterinary purposes, by analyzing detailed records from a period of 14 years of the treatment of 16 stranded individuals: harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), and a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Diazepam was used occasionally (once per case or for a few days at a time) to facilitate husbandry, including for managing stressful and transitional circumstances and during transport. It was also used occasionally (once per case) for veterinary purposes, such as to reduce stress or to facilitate x-ray scanning, gastroscopy, blood sampling, or wound treatment. Diazepam was found to be effective as an anti-anxiety drug, to cause drowsiness (i.e., reduce activity levels), as a muscle relaxant, and as an appetite stimulant. The doses used were similar for husbandry and veterinary purposes (0.03 to 0.44 mg/kg body weight), and the drug was administered almost exclusively orally (via fish) or via intramuscular injection.
期刊介绍:
Aquatic Mammals is a peer-reviewed journal sponsored by the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM), the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA), and the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA). Aquatic Mammals publishes articles related to marine mammals (whales, dolphins, seals, fur seals, sea lions, walrus, dugongs, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears). Topics of publication on both captive animals and wild marine mammals include aspects of husbandry; behavior; conservation; veterinary medicine; anatomy; physiology; training; population trends; and the effects of pollution, climate change, and noise.