Narkosefreie Blutabnahme und Labordiagnostik bei Großen Ameisenbären (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linné, 1758) im Zoo Dortmund

Because of their very large claws, Giant anteaters are quite dangerous animals. In this study the principles of Medical Training with Giant anteaters were worked out in order to obtain information about organ health and physical development of the animals without fixation. Anesthesia-free blood sampling was performed upon three trained animals, taken from the medial saphenous vein. In most cases, this vein could be palpated only, or the blood sampling had to be done “blind”. From 23 obtained blood samples the organ parameters, hemogram, taurine and coagulation parameters were determined.