Inhalation Anesthesia with GOF in Woodchucks

Abstract

Woodchucks (Marmota monax) with cysticercosis or with liver cancer induced by WHV were successf my operated under GOF anesthesia.
Premedication was carried out with atropine sulfate (0.05 mg/kg, IM), acetylpromazine maleate (0.05 or 0.10 mg/kg, IM) and ketamine hydrochloride (20 mg/kg, IM) . Approximately 15 min after the premedication, the animals were well sedated and easily and safely restrained.
After mask in halation of GOF, they were intubated and maintained with 1-1.5% halothane (O₂: N₂O=1: 1) . During the surgery, changes in heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature were not significant, except in the woodchuck with cysticercosis, in which dopamine was infused during the rest of the surgery.
Recovery from the anesthesia was very fast in all the animals except the one with cysticercosis and tracheal tubes were removed in approximately 10 min after the end of the halothane inhalation.
These results suggest that GOF anesthesia with this type of premedication is safe and practical in the surgery of woodchucks.