SURGICAL IMPIANTATION OF

I NTRAPERITON EAL RADIOTELEMEIRY DEVICES

lN EUROPEAN RIVER OTIERS (Lutro lutrol

Jon M. Arnemo

Abstract 2. Materials and methods

ln a pilot study on the biology and ecology of coastal Eurasian
otters (Lutra lutra) in Nonrrray, five otters were live-trapped
and implanted with intraperitoneal radiotransmitters. The
implantation was performed using a ventral, midline ap-
proach, with ketamine-xylazine as anesthetic regime.
1. lntroduction
To monitor the behaviou r of Eu rasian ollers (Lutra I utra)
in relation to marine salmonid farms, Fylkesmannen
2.1 Animals
Five Eurasian otters, 3 males and 2 females, were live-
trapped in a coastal area of northern Norway over a
three month period (Januaryto April 1989). The animals
were transported to a holding pen and fed fresh, whole
fish (mainly cod and coalf ish) and were offered water ad
libitum. The period from capture to implantation ranged
from 1 day to 6 days (see Table 1). Food was withheld
forat least 12 hours before surgery, butthe animals had
free access to drinking water.
i

Nordland (Chief Admin istrative Otf icer, Cou nty of Nord-
land) raised money to conduct a pilot study using
radiotelemetry. lntraperitoneal radiotransmitters have
been used successfully in North American river otters
(ELMORE etal. 1985; HOOVER 1984; MELQUISTand
HORNOCKER 1979 a,b), sea otters (WILLIAMS and
SINIFF 1983;GARSHELIS and SINIFF 1983) and in a
wide range of other mammals as well. The purpose of
this report is to present information on the anesthetic
regime and surgical procedure used to implant such
transmitters.
2.2 Radiotelemetry devices
The radiotransmitters used in this study were supplied
byTelonics, Mesa, Arizona, USA and were compatible
for retro- and intraperitoneal implantation (i.e. all com-
ponents, including transmitter, battery and antenna, are
fully contained in a sealed package coated with physi-
ologically inert material). They were cylindrical, approxi-
mately 3 cm in diameter and 10 cm long, and weighed
approximately 1 10 g. Battery life expectancy was esti-
mated to be 1 2-24 months, dependi ng on the pulse rate.

Table 1: Summary ol 5 Eurasian otters (Lufra /ufra) implanted intraperitoneally with radiotransmitters.

Animal
(No/sex/ 1lmalel 2lmalel 3llemalel 4/lemalel Slmale/
weighVage Skgl2y 1 0kg/5y 5kg/Sy 6kgl2y 9kgl4y
Date of Jan 17 Feb 4 Feb 14 Mar 3 Apr 1

capture -89 -89 -89 -89 -89

Date of Jan 20 Feb 4 Feb 20 Mar 4 Apr 2

surgery
Dose of 50+4 60+2 30+2 40+3 36+2
ketamine/ mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg
xylazine
Date of Jan 24 Feb 6 Feb 20 Mar 9 AprT
release
Mental Calm Aggres- Calm Calm Calm
state sive
Alive/ Alive Feb 11 Nov 18 Alive Alive
date of death 89 89

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 2.3 lmmobilization and anesthesia
Each otter was immobilized with a mixture of ketamine
hydrochloride (Ketalar 50 mg/ml, "Parke-Davis") and
xylazine hydrochloride (Rompun 20 mg/ml, "Baye/').
The body weight was estimated and an initial dose of 20
mg ketamine/kg and 2 mg xylazine/kg was adminis-
tered using a blowpipe. Additional injections were given
until the animal could safely be handled. lf required,
more ketamine was injected intramuscularly during
surgery to keep the animal at an adequate anesthetic
level.
The age of the otters was estimated f rom the tooth wear
(STUBBE 1969). Before and during surgery the rectal
temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and level of
consciousness were monitored. Equipment for me-
chanicalventilation was available for respiratory emer-
gencies.
2.4 Surgical procedures
To avoid thermoregulatory complications after release,
the incision area was not shaved. lnstead an antiseptic
cream (Brulidine, "Rhone-Poulenc") was rubbed into
the hair caudal to the umbilicus over an area of 5 cm by
12 cm. The hair was then parted using a comb to make
an incision on exposed skin possible. The otters were
placed in dorsal recumbency and a surgical incision
was made through the skin and subcutaneous tissues
from the umbilicus and 7-8 cm caudally. The peritoneal
cavity was then opened with an incision through the
linea alba. The transmitters were soaked in a 1"k
solution of prewarmed (380C) benzalkonium chloride
for t hour and then washed in sterile, prewarmed (380C)
0.9% NaCl before implantation. Each transmitter was
placed ventrally in the abdomen in a cranioventral
orientation. The incision was closed in 3 layers using
2-0 polypropylene (Miralene) suture in a simple inter-
rupted pattern for the peritoneum and linea alba, a 2-0
polyglycolic acid (Dexon) suture in a simple continuous
pattern for subcutaneous tissues, and a 2-0 poly-
propylene (Miralene) suture in a simple interrupted
pattern for the skin.
2.5 Postoperative procedures
lmmediately after surgery, blood samples were drawn
from the jugular vein using Venoject equipment and
each otter received an intramuscular injection of procain
benzylpenicillin (40 mg/kg) and dihydrostreptomycin
(50 mg/kg) (1 ml Proca-Mycin "A-L'75 kg). The otters
were then allowed to recover in the holding cage, were
offered water and fresh fish, and were observed for a
number of days before release (see Table 1). The day
before release, each otter was immobilized with
ketamine-xylazine for clinical examination and blood
sampling and received a second intramuscular injec-
tion of the same antibiotics.
120
2.6 Post mortem examinations
Necropsies were performed by the Department of Wild-
life Pathology, the NationalVeterinary lnstitute of Nor-
way, Oslo, on the 2 otters that died.
3.Results
A combination of ketamine and xylazinewas foundto be
a safe and eff icacious anesthetic regime. The total dose
of ketamine and xylazine needed forthis surgical proce-
dure, ranged from 30 mg ketaminelkg+2 mg xylazine/
kg to 60 mg ketamine lkg + 2 mg xylazine (see Table 1 ).
The modified surgical procedure using an antiseptic
cream on the incision area instead of shaving a conven-
tional skin desinfection, seemed adequate and there
were no signs of wound infections at the prerelease
clinical examination.
Otter no. 2 was found dqad five days after release with
the incision torn open and some of the abdominal
organs hanging out f rom the wound. Most of the sutures
in the linea alba and peritoneum was intact and still
attached to one of the wound edges. This animal, a
large male, had been extremely aggressive when cap-
tured, and to prevent fufiher stress from confinement, it
was decided to operate the same day and release the
otter the day after. The necropsy revealed an inad-
equate healing response and marked loss of body fat.
The blood analysis showed some extreme values for
"stress" indicators like creatine kinase and lactate
dehydrogenase (ARNEMO, unpublished data 1989).
There were no signs of reaction on the peritoneum.
Otter no. 3 drowned in a f ish trap on november 1 8, 1 989,
nearly 9 months after surgery, Necropsy revealed no
pathological conditions and the transmitter was lying
free ventrally among the abdominalorgans.
4. Discussion
Ketamine and xylazine was chosen for anesthesia in
this study because this these drugs have been shown
to have a wide safety range in otters (ARNEMO 1988;
ELMORE et al. 1985; JENKINS and GORMAN 1981;
KANE 1979; KUIKEN 1988; MELQUIST and
HORNOCKER 1979 a,b; REUTHER 1983;WALLACH
and BOEVER 1983) and because a reversing agent is
available (ARNEMO 1988). The total dose of ketamine/
kg needed for surgical anesthesia varied between
animals and seemed to some degree to be dependent
on the mental state ("aggressiveness") of the otter.
While 30-40 mg ketamine/kg was sufficient for 3 out of
5 animals, otter no 2 needed 60 mg ketamine/kg, which
is almost three times the dosage repoded for similar
surgical procedures in North American river otters
(ELMORE et al. 1985).
The inadequate healing response revealed by necropsy
in otter no. 2 is difficult to explain. The idea of immediate
surgery and early release was to avoid further stress
and to minimize the risk of abnormal behaviour. lncom-
plete healing response has been reported in North
American river otters following implantation of radio
transmitters (ELMOREetal. 1 985; WOOLFetal. 1 984).
REID, D. G.; MELQUIST, W. E.; WOOLINGTON, J. D.;
NOLL, J. M. (1 986): Reproductiveeffectsof intraperitoneal
transmitter implants in river otters. - Journal of Wildlife
Management 50(1 ): 92-94
REUTHER, C. (1983): Erfahrungen beider lmmobilisation
von Europischen Fischottern (Lutra lutra) mil
Ketaminhydrochlorid. - Berliner und Mtinchener
Tierrztliche Wochenschrift 96: 401 -405

The anesthetic regime and surgical procedure de-
scribed in this report can be recommended for use in
situations where anesthetic and surgical facilities and
equipment are limited (e.9.: field conditions), because
anesthesia can be rapidly reversed and because the
time needed for the entire procedure is shoft.
Necropsy of otter no. 3 that died 9 months after surgery,
confirm other reports (REID etal. 1986; MELQUISTand
HORNOCKER 1979 b) indicating that these implants
are welltolerated .
5. Acknowledgements
STUBBE, M. (1969): Zur Biologie und zum Schutz des
-
Fischotters Lutra lutra (L.). Archiv ftlr Naturschutz und
Landschaftsforschung 9(31 4): 31 5-324
WALLACH, J. D.; BOEVER, W. J. (1983): Diseases of exotic
animals. Medical and surgical management. Philadel-
phia, W.B. Saunders Co.: 499-500
WILLIAMS,T. D.; SlNlFF, D. B. (1983): Surgical implantation
of radiotelemetry devices in the sea otter. - Journal of the
American Veterinary Medical Association 183: 1290-
1291
WOOLF, A.; CURL, J. L.;ANDERSON, E. (1984): lnanition
following implantation of a radiotelemetry device in a river
otter. -Journal of theAmerican Veterinary Medical Asso-
ciation 185: 1415-1416

The author wishes to thank Mr. Terje Bo for his excellent Jon M. Arnemo,
administration of this project, and Mr. Ole A. Davidsen for his PO Box 70,
N-8980 Vega,
expedise in handling and care of the otters.
Norway

6. References

ARNEMO, J. M. (1988): Rapid reversalof ketamine'xylazine from:

anesthesia with yohimbine. Review of literature and clini- REUTHER, C.; RoCHERT, R. (eds.): Proceedings of
cal testing. - Norsk Veterin rtidsskrift 100: 885'890 the V. lnternational Otter Colloquium. - Habitat 6,
ELMORE, R. G.; HARDIN, D. K.; BALKE, J. M. E.; HankensbUttel, 1991
YOUNGQUIST, R. S.; ERICKSON, D.W. (1985):
Analyzing the effects of diazepam used in combination
with ketamine. - Veterinary Medicine 100: 55-57
GARSHELIS, D. L.; SlNlFF, D, B. (1983): Evaluation of
radiotransmitter attachments for sea otters. - Wildlife
Society Bulletin 11(4): 378-383
HOOVER;J. P. ('l 984): Surgical implantation of radiotelemetry
devices in American river otters. - Journal of the Ameri-
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JENKINS, D.; GORMAN, M. L. (1981): Anaesthesia of the
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KANE, K. K. (1979): Medical management of the otter. -
Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American
'l 00-103c
Association of Zoo Veterinarians:
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'107-110
Conference on Wildlife Biotelemetry:
MELQUIST, W. E.; HORNOCKER, M. G. (1979 b): Methods
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8:9-10

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