Otters (Lutra lutra)

Otters (Lutra lutra)

Drug	Dose	Comments
Anaesthetics:
Ketamine + diazepam	Ketamine (18 mg/kg) + diazepam (0.5 mg/kg)a i.m.	Good relaxation Risk of hyperthermia with ketamine
Ketamine + medetomidine	Ketamine (5 mg/kg) + medetomidine (0.05 mg/kg)c i.m.	Rapid induction Good relaxation Can be reversed with atipamezole Risk of hyperthermia with ketamine Risk of bradycardia and respiratory depression with medetomidine
Ketamine + midazolam	Ketamine (10—12 mg/kg) + midazolam (0.25–0.5 mg/kg)b i.m.	Rapid induction 20–30 minutes anaesthesia Smooth recovery Risk of hyperthermia with ketamine
Atipamezole	0.2 mg/kg i.m (i.e. 5x dose (mg/kg) medetomidine used)c	Reversal of medetomidine: 5 times the medetomidine dose (i.e. equal volume of the 5 mg/ml atipamezole solution) In common with most species, a delay in reversal of medetomidine of at least 20 minutes after the administration of combinations with ketamine is recommended
Analgesics:
Buprenorphine	0.02 mg/kg i.v., i.m., s.c. q6h	Opioid analgesic for mild to moderate pain
Butorphanol	0.2–0.55 mg/kg i.v., i.m., s.c. q4h	Generally used as part of pre-anaesthetic medication
Carprofen	2–4 mg/kg i.v., s.c., p.o. q24h	Effective NSAID. The usual considerations for the careful use of NSAIDs in dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypertensive animals, as well as those with underlying gastrointestinal disease, should be observed
Meloxicam	0.2 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h (initial dose) 0.1 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h (maintenance dose)
Morphine	0.5 mg/kg i.v., i.m. q2–4h	Opioid analgesic for moderate to severe pain
Antibiotics: Antibiotic use (both appropriate and inappropriate) imposes a powerful selection pressure on bacteria and is the primary driver of antibiotic resistance. Eliminating unnecessary use in people and animals is, therefore, essential to safeguard this invaluable resource. Prudent use is especially indicated where treated wild animals are being returned to the wild. The reader is referred to the Guide for Responsible Use of Antibiotics for further information (https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/formulary/backmatter/exotic-petsguidelinesforresponsibleantibacterialuse) Antibiotic drug doses for otters can, as a general rule, be extrapolated from canine doses. Reader is referred to BSAVA Small Animal Formulary - Part A: Canine and Feline.
Amoxicillin/clavulanate (co-amoxiclav)	8.75 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q24h 12.5 mg/kg p.o. q12h	Broad-spectrum antibiotic Useful for the treatment of bite wounds Duration according to response (minimum of 5 days)
Clindamycin	5.5 mg/kg p.o. q12h 11 mg/kg p.o. q24h	For the treatment of bite wounds and oral infections Duration according to response (minimum of 5 days)
Enrofloxacin	5 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h	Fluroquinolones should ideally be reserved for infections where culture and sensitivity testing predict a clinical response and use of first- and second- line antimicrobials would not be considered effective Duration according to response (minimum of 5 days) Not to be used in growing animals
Marbofloxacin	2 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h
Parasiticides: Parasiticide use in wildlife may reduce the development of natural resistance to parasites, as well as exerting selection pressure on organisms which can lead to drug resistance and may risk environmental contamination. Careful selection and use of these drugs, only where there is a clinical need, and then using narrow spectrum products, is essential where treated wild animals are being returned to the wild. Reader is referred to the joint BVA, BSAVA and BVZS policy statement
Fenbendazole	50 mg/kg p.o. q24h for 3 days	For the treatment of nematodes and cestodes
Fipronil	3–6 ml/kg of 0.25% w/v spray topically	Rarely indicated For the treatment of ticks
Ivermectin	0.2 mg/kg s.c., p.o.	Rarely indicated
Praziquantel	5 mg/kg p.o.	For the treatment of trematodes
Selamectin	6 mg/kg topically	Rarely indicated

NSAID(s) = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(s)

References and further reading

a Kuiken T (1988) Anaesthesia in the European otter. Veterinary Record 123, 59

b Spelman LH (1999) Otter anaesthesia. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Current Therapy 4, ed. ME Fowler and RE Miller. WB Saunders, Philadelphia

c Fernandez-Moran J, Molina L, Flamme G, Saavedra, D and Manteca-Vilanova X (2001b) Hematological and biochemical reference intervals for wild caught Eurasian otter from Spain. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 37, 159–163

Simpson V and Couper D (2016) Otters. BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, 2nd edition, ed. E Mullineaux and E Keeble, pp. 228–241. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester

BSAVA library https://www.bsavalibrary.com/

BVA, BSAVA, BVZS joint policy statement: Responsible use of parasiticides https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/responsible-use-of-parasiticides-for-cats-and-dogs/