DINGO
11.1 Capture and physical restraint
Dingoes (Canis familiaris) held in managed care can be unpredictable and those that will allow handling should always be muzzled and firmly restrained for examination regardless of temperament.
Manual restraint methods do not differ from those used for domestic dogs. Dingoes that will not tolerate handling may be confined to a small pen and caught in a hoop net. Prolonged pursuit must be avoided as hyperthermia may result. Once restrained, IV or IM anaesthetic agents can be administered. The head must be restrained to avoid being bitten during injection and to prevent the animal from traumatising its gums and fracturing teeth if biting on the hoop of a net. Darting is preferred where facilities and experienced personnel for netting are not available (Hulst 2008).Free-ranging dingoes can be caught in cage traps. Cage traps may be used for semi-habituated dingoes; however, many free-ranging dingoes are too wary to enter. Anecdotally cage trap success improves if pre-baiting is employed in the days prior to a trapping attempt. Once trapped, to avoid the stress and risk of injury associated with physical restraint, sedation or anaesthesia can be induced remotely by dart (M Campbell-Ward pers. comm.). Free-ranging dingoes can also be caught using padded leg-hold traps. Once caught, the head is restrained using a dog-catching noose (NHMRC 2014). If chemical restraint is needed for a dingo in a leg-hold trap, drugs can be administered by hand or pole syringe after noosing or netting (Hulst 2008). Induction with 0.04-0.06 mg/kg medetomidine plus 3-5 mg/kg ketamine delivered IM produces a reliable level of chemical restraint for safe removal from the trap, thorough physical examination and minimally invasive procedures. Reversal is with ati- pamezole IM at 5 x the induction dose of medetomidine (M Campbell-Wardpers. comm.).
11.2 Chemical restraint
Chemical restraint agents (see Appendix 3) may be administered via hand-held syringe, pole syringe or projectile dart (Hulst 2008; Cracknell 2013). The large muscle mass of the thigh is the preferred site for IM and dart injection. IV access is straightforward in tractable animals. See Table 9.1 for pre-anaesthetic fasting requirements.
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