There is little published information on the effectiveness and safety of these agents in the wide range of bat species. Their inclusion here is intended only as a very general guide.  Although the anesthetic regimens described below either have been used as indicated for anesthetizing bats or are generally used for many mammalian species, their utility and safety for many bat species and procedures has yet to be determined.

INJECTABLE AGENTS:

Ketamine + acetylpromazine - 11 mg/kg of ketamine and 1.1 mg/kg of acetylpromazine by intramuscular injection or possibly intraperitoneal injection.  COMMENTS: Used for restraint in giant fruit bats, intramuscular injection may not be suitable for some small bats, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection MAY be suitable.

Ketamine + xylazine - 20 mg/kg of ketamine and 1.5-2.0 mg/kg xylazine by intramuscular injection. COMMENTS: Used in fishing bats, intramuscular injection may not be suitable for some small bats, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection MAY be suitable.

Pentobarbital - 25-50 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection, recommend 30 mg/kg as an initial dose. COMMENTS: Sometimes combined with acetylpromazine at 1-2 mg/kg, however, if this tranquilizer is used, the amount of pentobarbital should be reduced by 1/3 to 1/2.

INHALANT AGENTS:

Halothane – Halothane should be administered with a vaporizer.  Anesthesia can be induced with 3 – 5% Halothane and maintained at 1.0 – 1.5% of inspired gas.  COMMENTS:  Rapid induction and changes in levels of anesthesia make Halothane dangerous when used without a vaporizer; waste gases should be scavenged for personal safety reasons; microsomal enzymes are induced to a greater degree than with methoxyflurane; suitable for prolonged procedures when administered with a vaporizer; rapid recovery.

Isoflurane - Administer with a vaporizer. Anesthesia can be induced with 3 – 5% isoflurane and maintained at 1 – 2% of inspired gas.  Preanesthesia with butrophanol (5 mg/kg by intramuscular injection) may be suitable for some species of bats. COMMENTS: Rapid induction and changes in levels of anesthesia make isoflurane dangerous when used without a vaporizer, waste gases should be scavenged for personal safety reasons; suitable for prolonged procedures when administered with a vaporizer; rapid recovery; can be cardioprotective in some species.