Total intramuscular multimodal anesthesia in pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) undergoing endoscopic gonadectomy

Anesthetics’ efficacy and pharmacological effects in reptiles are difficult information to retrieve due to specie-specific characteristics. Particularly, inhalant maintenance often results in unpredictable changes in anesthetic depth and prolonged recovery. The aim of the study was to assess a totally injectable protocol that could allow to avoid inhalant maintenance in Trachemys scripta undergoing elective endoscopic assisted gonadectomy. Seventeen clinically healthy turtles were induced with an intramuscular combination of dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg/kg), ketamine (3 mg/kg), midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) and alfaxalone (8.5 mg/kg). Mean induction time (IT), need for intra-operative inhalant anesthetic, heart rate (HR) and mean recovery time (RT) were recorded. Atipamezole (1 mg/kg) and flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg) were administered intramuscularly and intravenously at the end of the surgery to reverse dexmedetomidine and midazolam, respectively. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and, to further investigate potential differences between juvenile and adult specimens, student T test (p < 0.05) was applied. Mean IT was 17 ±7 minutes. No reaction to skin incision was observed, and 2 out of 17 turtles required inhalant maintenance. Mean HR was 35 ± 5 bpm, with no significant alteration recorded during anesthesia. Mean RT was 10 ±12 minutes. A significant difference between juveniles (8/17) and adults (9/17) was recorded (p = 0.0028), while no age-related differences in HR and RT were observed. This protocol in T. scripta appears to be safe and to provide a short induction and recovery time. Adequate depth of anesthesia could be maintained throughout elective procedure in 88% of subjects without inhalant anesthesia.