Development of body temperature under ketamine-xylacine-injection anaesthesia in combination with isoflurane in Northern American river otters (Lutra canadensis)

For routine clinical examination six captive North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) were immobilized with a ketamin-xylazine injection anaesthesia. The anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane after approximately 15 minutes using a breathing mask. All animals showed a decline of body temperature with a mean of 1.5 degrees C. These results are contrary to the in Germany widely spread opinion that otters generally develop a hyperthermia during injection anaesthesia. As for other mammals, it is essential to measure the body temperature in otters during anaesthesia to prevent hyper- and hypothermia, respectively.