Multimodal anesthesia in a margay (Leopardus wiedii) for sacralosteosynthesis

Abstract

The margay (Leopardus wiedii) is a small wild feline endemic to Central and South America. Due to increasing habitat fragmentation and human expansion, margays are frequently involved in road traffic accidents, leading to severe traumatic injuries. Effective veterinary intervention is crucial for their rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild. However, limited literature exists on appropriate anesthetic and surgical management strategies for wild felids. A free-ranging adult female margay (2.3 kg) was admitted with a complete displaced fracture of the right sacral wing, multiple pubis, and ischium fractures. Anesthetic management included premedication with tiletamine-zolazepam (5 mg/kg IM) and methadone (0.3 mg/kg IM), induction with propofol (3 mg/kg IV), and maintenance with isoflurane in oxygen. A sacrococcygeal epidural block (L7-S1) with lidocaine (3 mg/kg) was performed to reduce inhalant anesthetic requirements and enhance analgesia. Physiological parameters remained stable throughout the procedure, and postoperative recovery was uneventful. The patient was discharged to wildlife rehabilitation authorities 27 days post-surgery. The combination of tiletaminezolazepam, methadone, and epidural lidocaine effectively provided immobilization, analgesia, and hemodynamic stability. This case highlights the importance of multimodal analgesia and careful anesthetic monitoring to ensure successful surgical outcomes in wildlife conservation medicine. The anesthetic and surgical approach described in this report contributed to the successful rehabilitation of a margay with pelvic fractures caused by a road traffic accident. The findings support the efficacy of multimodal anesthesia and epidural analgesia in wild feline trauma management, providing valuable insights for future veterinary interventions in conservation medicine.