Thys Snyman, [17 Jun 2024 at 12:48:53]: Hi Brainstrust. There is an adult giraffe cow on our property in hilly terrain with what seems like something stuck in its throat. Immobilization seems risky in that terrain - there is also some regurgitation. Any suggestions? Hendrik Hansen, [17 Jun 2024 at 14:30:18]: Dart with Thianil 1.5mg + medetomidine 16 mg and you will be able to herd/ walk the animal out of the hilly area to flatter ground and then try to determine what is stuck. Either take it out or push through with a stomach tube. This immobilization protocol will give you enough time for a procedure like that. Ulf Tubessing, [17 Jun 2024 at 15:01:45]: Giraffe in phosphate deficient areas eat bones. I once removed most of a sheep skull from the mouth, but the tongue was severely lacerated. She responded well to antibiotics and Metacam, and calved 2 months later HO Reuter, [18 Jun 2024 at 06:48:07]: Good morning Hendrik, what dosage atipamezole / yohimbine do you use on giraffe? I have had a few at lower medetomidine dose (e.g. Thianil 1.5 mg + medetomidine 6 mg for a large 4-year-old heifer) where they were a bit wobbly on their feet, or even falling again when roping and walking into trailer. I had initially reversed this female with 6 ml atipamezole/yohimbine combination and 50 mg Trexonil. I then repeated the dose and eventually gave another 30 mg atipamezole. Most of the giraffe get up well on the initial reversal dose, but with the few that struggle if I have a good roping team, I sometimes prefer old high dose opioid dose only. Hendrik Hansen, [18 Jun 2024 at 09:30:16]: 1:1 medetomidine to atipamezole. Use the atipamezole / yohimbine combination preparation It is known that reticulated giraffe do show re-narcotization symptoms with alpha-2 usage, but I haven't had any re-re-narcotization in southern giraffe yet. I do double the naltrexone dose to be 100% sure the opioid effect is antagonised properly. HO Reuter, [18 Jun 2024 at 12:31:38]: Thanks Hendrik, even at 2:1 and giving time before letting them get up, I have had a few too “wobbly” for my liking. Most are 100% though. I’ll try some with lower opioid plus higher medetomidine some time. Hendrik Hansen, [18 Jun 2024 at 13:17:28]: This looks like same scenario as other ungulates - " the lower the opioid component, the lower the negative effects of the alpha-2 component is, although the actual dosage of alpha- 2 is higher. " The alpha-2 antagonist dosage needed in this scenario is also lower.
