Millspaugh, Joshua J., Brundige, Gary C., Jenks, Jonathan A., Tyner, C. Lee and Hustead, David R. 1995. Immobilization of Rocky Mountain Elk with Telazol and Xylazine Hydrochloride, and Antagonism by Yohimine Hydrochloride. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 31.

Abstract

Ten trapped Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) were successfully immobilized with a combination of 500 mg Telazol and 60 mg xylazine hydrochloride (HCl) from 9 July to 25 August 1993 in Custer State Park, South Dakota (USA). Mean (SD) dosages of 2.5 (0.6) mg/kg Telazol and 0.3 (0.1) mg/kg xylazine HCl, respectively, were administered, resulting in meand (SD) induction time fo 4.6 (0.8) min. Induction time varied with weight and dosage. Respiratory rate (breaths/min) increased following injection of Telazol and xylazine HCl and remained elevated or continued to increase through 10 min post-injection and then declined. There were no mortalities in this study. Forty mg of yohimbine HCl was used as an antagonist in eight elk, resulting in a mean (SD) recovery time of 14.0 (9.9) min when administered intravenously (n=6), and 124.7(9.5) min when given intramuscularly (n=2). Recovery time varied with weight and dosage of yohimbine. Elk given 2.1 to 2.6 mg.kg Telazol and 0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg xylazine HCl responded to yohimbine HCl when administered intravenously.