VENOUS BLOOD GAS AND SELECTED BIOCHEMICAL VALUES FROM AWAKE AND ANESTHETIZED WHITE-BELLIED PANGOLINS ( PHATAGINUS TRICUSPIS).

ABSTRACT

Pangolins are one of the most-trafficked endangered species and are rare in zoologic collections. Blood gas and select biochemical analysis was performed on nine African white-bellied tree pangolins ( Phataginus tricuspis). Paired blood samples were collected from the ventral tail vasculature prior to (T1) and after 10 min (T2) of sevoflurane anesthesia, and selected blood gas and biochemical parameters were measured using a portable blood gas analyzer. Median (min-max) values for corrected venous blood were pH = 7.372 (7.207-7.529) at T1 and 7.278 (7.124-7.418) at T2. Corrected values were PCO2 = 51.7 (29.6-69.0) mmHg at T1 and 58.431 (38.1-90.8) mmHg at T2. Clinicians should be aware that this species may hypoventilate while anesthetized with sevoflurane and develop a respiratory acidosis. Concomitant administration of respiratory depressants could compound this effect in a species where oro-tracheal intubation has not been described.