Otters (Lutra lutra)

Otters (Lutra lutra)

Table of doses for otters

Drug	Dose	Comments
Anaesthetics: Gaseous anaesthesia can be used in all species and in most it is the preferred method
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	Control of 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	Control of 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. The reader is referred to the Guidelines for responsible antibiotic use for further information
Amoxicillin/clavulanate (co-amoxiclav)	8.75 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q24h 12.5-25 mg/kg p.o. q12h	Broad-spectrum antibiotic Useful for the treatment of bite wounds Duration according to response (minimum of 5-7 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 5-7 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 5-7 days) Not to be used in growing animals
Marbofloxacin	2 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h
Antiparasiticides
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.

Useful websites

https://www.bsavalibrary.com/

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/