Chemical Restraint of Ocelot, Leopardus Pardalis, for Semen Collection with the Association of Tiletamine- Zolazepam and Xylazine

The anesthetic effects of tiletamine hydrochloride (7 mg/kg), zolazepam hydrochloride (7 mg/kg) and xylazine (1 mg/kg) association, doses calculated by the estimated weight, were evaluated after deep intramuscular injection for pharmacological restraint of male ocelot (Leopardus pardalis. Linnaeus, 1758) (Felidae), subjected to semen collection by electroejaculation. Four animals were anesthetized on four to five different occasions with an interval of 30 days, totaling 17 procedures. In some instances, when the initial pharmacological restraint was not propitiated safety for handling the animal, it was necessary to apply supplementary anesthetics, and then administered 1/3 of the initial dose, fact necessary only in three procedures(17.64%). After the injection, parameters like heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, muscle relaxation and nociception was monitored for 80 minutes. The latency period was 3.56 +/- 0.55 minutes after injection and the time for recovery was 169.60 +/- 12.37 minutes. There was no significant statistical difference (p>0.05) between the animals and moments evaluated for painful reactions, muscle relaxant, as well as for the parameters: respiratory and heart rates and rectal temperature. The combination of tiletamine-zolazepam and xylazine at doses of 1mg/kg and 7mg/kg respectively, provided a good quality of anesthesia, short latency period, good viable anesthetic period and safety to proceed the electroejaculation in ocelots, with good quality of obtained semen.