SunTech Vet 30 for Wildlife
By Dr Fabiola Quesada
Veterinarian
Co-Founder & Executive Director Wild Spirit Fund
CEO Wild Spirit
We want to share our most sincere gratitude to SunTech Medical USA for their generosity in donating a brand new SunTech Vet 30 to Wild Spirit Fund for our chimpanzee rescue centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Wildlife veterinarians are one specialisation that requires, in most cases, the patient has to be under anaesthesia. During our wildlife vet training program in South Africa at Wild Spirit we work with a wide range of species from small meerkats to birds, big cats and mega-herbivores, and under the most unpredictable circumstances. Numerous factors are crucial to succeed in this reality: knowledge, experience, and reliable equipment.
The diversity of anatomy, physiology and field conditions requires a versatile, portable and reliable anaesthesia monitoring machine. After years of using different brands, we started using SunTeh Vet30 four years ago, and it is by far the most accurate and robust we have ever used.
The SunTech Vet30 covers this wide range of required parameters and comes with numerous accessories of different fits and sizes that make it possible to use in numerous species. Our accessories include 8 blood pressure cuffs, 2 pulse oximetry sensors (1 clip, 1 rectal/reflectance), 1 temperature sensor, and 1 extension.
Here are some cases over the past years, We are looking forward to sharing the results of monitoring chimpanzees.
Cheetah
Location: Reputable rescue centre. South Africa.
Date: Wild Spirit Vet Course 2021.
Treatment required: Surgical removal of the subcutaneous lump.
Anaesthesia:
- Intramuscular chemical: For capture and transport.
- Inhalation anaesthesia + oxygen + IV infusion: For maintenance during surgery.
Anaesthesia Monitor: SunTech Vet 30
Cheetahs are one of the most sensitive big cats to anaesthesia. Acute deaths during capture and anaesthesia are related to cardiorespiratory suppression and hyper or hypothermia. Chronic deaths are related to kidney failure due to compromised perfusion during anaesthesia.
Therefore along with the right drug combination and the capture technique, the excellent monitoring of the SO2, blood pressure, heart rate, and temperate makes all the difference in taking the required actions and saving the animal.
Parameters that do not show in the photo are because this accessory was not placed when the picture was taken.
Tiger
Location: Reputable rescue centre. South Africa.
Date: Wild Spirit Vet course 2021.
Case: Medical check, X-rays and complete blood analysis following limping and incoordination.
Anaesthesia:
- Intramuscular chemical: For capture and transport.
- IV infusion: For maintenance during surgery.
Anaesthesia Monitor: SunTech Vet 30
Despite their size, tigers, especially seniors, are extremely sensitive to the cycloheximide-alpha2 combination. Wrong drug doses and the combination can cause Cardiorespiratory arrest or kidney failure. This is one of these anaesthesias that requires close and continuous patient monitoring, and Suntech Vet 30 gives us the needed reliability.
Parameters that do not show in the photo are because this accessory was not placed when the picture was taken.
Lion & Lioness
Location: Reputable rescue centre. South Africa.
Date: Wild Spirit Vet course 2021.
Male Lion
Case: Medical check, X-rays and complete blood analysis following limping and incoordination.
Anaesthesia:
- Intramuscular chemical: For capture and transport.
- IV infusion: For maintenance during surgery.
Female Lion
Case: Surgery hysterectomy
Anaesthesia:
- Intramuscular chemical: For capture and transport.
Inhalation anaesthesia + oxygen + IV infusion: For maintenance during surgery.
Anaesthesia Monitor: SunTech Vet 30
Accurate monitoring is essential in controlling animals’ pain and anaesthesia depthness for the safety of the patients and humans.
The breeding industry of lions following petting, canned hunting and bone trade is a horrific lucrative reality and only recently is started to be appropriately regulated in some countries. True sanctuaries are those that perform birth control, knowing that lions born in captivity cannot be reintroduced in the wild. The conservation efforts of lions should protect those born in nature. The captive adult’s lions that are rescued from certain death and in facilities with no animal welfare standards are now living a quality living close to the wild in these few reputable true sanctuaries in South Africa.
Parameters that do not show in the photo are because this accessory was not placed when the picture was taken.
