Ostrich (Struthio camelus) immobilisation using carfentanil and xylazine and reversal with yohimbine and naltrexone.

Ostriches (Struthio camelus) (n = 20) were immobilised from a helicopter by darting with a total dose of 3 mg carfentanil and 150 mg xylazine. An initial excitement phase was displayed, commencing on average at 2.67 min (S.D. 0.72) after darting, and the average time to recumbency was 4.97 min (S.D. 1.05). The average heart and respiration rates prior to reversal were 121.2 (S.D. 19.96) and 13.7 (S.D. 5.96) min-1 respectively. Reversal was achieved by the intravenous injection of yohimbine at approximately 0.125 mg kg-1 and 300 mg of naltrexone, and was uneventful. Further investigations need to be done to establish the most appropriate dosage rates for these preparations in ostriches.