Dexmedetomidine-ketamine or isoflurane produces effective anesthesia in white-bellied pangolins (Phataginus tricuspis) under professional care

Objective To determine if dexmedetomidine-ketamine (DK) is an effective protocol without immediate complications and to describe anesthetic quality, physiologic variables, and blood gas parameters in DK and isoflurane (ISO) anesthesia in white-bellied pangolins (Phataginus tricuspis) under professional care. Methods An observational study was conducted in 12 indoor-housed pangolins at a single zoological institution from 2023 through 2024. Pangolins were anesthetized with an IM injection of DK (0.05 mg/kg dexmedetomidine and 4 mg/kg ketamine) or with ISO via induction chamber followed by facemask delivery. Physiologic parameters were recorded every 5 minutes, and 3 serial blood gas samples were obtained every 15 minutes from the ventral coccygeal vasculature. At 45 minutes following recumbency, anesthesia was discontinued by administration of atipamezole (0.5 mg/ kg, IM) for DK or by turning off the ISO vaporizer. There was a washout period of at least 37 days between treatments. Pangolins were excluded if they were nursing or if anesthetic risk was > 2 American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Classification Status. Results 11 pangolins were anesthetized with DK, and 8 pangolins were anesthetized with ISO (7 of 8 pangolins in this group were also anesthetized with DK). Dexmedetomidine-ketamine and ISO produced reliable anesthesia without immediate complications. Pangolins had lower heart rates and respiratory rates in DK than in ISO. Blood gas parameters were within clinically acceptable limits for both protocols. Conclusions White-bellied pangolins under professional care can be effectively anesthetized with DK or ISO without major complications. Clinical Relevance This study reports the first injectable anesthetic protocol for use in this species.