The paca is a South American rodent whose handling, tranquilization or anesthesia …

• Summary
• Introduction
• Material and Method
• Results
• Discussion
• References
• Figures

Biology Articles » Methods & Techniques » Handling of female pacas (Agouti paca, Linnaeus, 1766) for ultrasound pregnancy detection » Introduction

Introduction

- Handling of female pacas (Agouti paca, Linnaeus, 1766) for ultrasound pregnancy detection

Because of specific behavioral and biological characteristics, the completion of medical and handling procedures of pacas in zoos and raising coops are very difficult because even when they become used to keepers and captivity conditions, they are very susceptible to stress, responding aggressively and not permitting any kind of handling^1,2. Nets attached to a wire loop and squeeze cages are necessary to the physical restraint and examination of small rodents³.

Literature lacks concerning tranquilizations or anesthesia of South American rodents, as pacas, existing only one previous study referring to the use of anesthetic drugs in this species⁴.