Gernot Redeker[ 7:41 pm, 06/06/2022] After doing two 4 year old rhinos last week and loaded them easily and well on the old regime - how do I go about to load them easily with the low opioid combination, i.e I don’t want them lying but standing and load them. In other words when and how do I inject what to get them walking? HO Reuter [7:48 pm, 06/06/2022]: The rhino we did at the workshop could easily be walked for several minutes once affected, using etorphine 2mg + medetomidine 12 mg + azaperone 25mg for mature cows/ bull. It will give enough time to off-load the crate, then walk the animal straight in and reverse with diprenorphine. Hendrik reckons there is no need to reverse medetomidine effect - they stand (or lie down comfortably) with no pushing at all. Hendrik Hansen [4:03 am, 07/06/2022] : Etorphine 1 mg + medetomidine 6 mg + azaperone 20 mg will give you plenty time to walk and load them without them going down. More time and easier walking than you are used to. The biggest positive is that they will be very calm during transport. It might take a few minutes more before you can blindfold them, but once blindfolded, they are easy to load and more predictable in that they will stay on their feet longer for loading. Hendrik Hansen [4:06 am, 07/06/2022]: If they do go down, butorphanol will have the same effect to get them walking again, but at lower dosages or even diprenorphine can be used if you want.
