Reference cardiopulmonary physiologic parameters for standing, unrestrained white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum)

Abstract: Chemical restraint is an important tool for the management and medical care of both captive and freeranging rhinoceroses. Current anesthetic protocols for the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) are reported to cause varying degrees of hypertension, tachycardia, muscular stiffness and fasciculation, acidosis, and, most importantly, respiratory depression with resulting hypoventilation, hypoxia, and hypercapnea. To assist in the assessment and development of new and improved anesthetic techniques for the white rhinoceros, the following cardiopulmonary reference parameters for standing, unrestrained white rhinoceroses were generated (mean standard error [minimum maximum]): heart rate 39 0.8 beats/min (32–42), respiratory rate 19 0.6 breaths/min (16–23), corrected indirect systolic blood pressure 160 2.9 mm Hg (146–183), corrected indirect diastolic blood pressure 104 2.3 mm Hg (88–117), corrected indirect mean blood pressure 124 2.2 mm Hg (108–135), end tidal CO2 45.1 0.7 mm Hg (41.7–48.0), rectal temperature 36.8 0.1 C (36.6–37.2), arterial blood pH 7.391 0.007 (7.346– 7.431), arterial partial pressure of oxygen 98.2 1.4 mm Hg (90.2–108.6), arterial partial pressure of CO2 49.0 0.9 mm Hg (44.4–53.7), base excess 3.5 0.4 mmol/L (1.9–5.9), bicarbonate 29.3 0.4 mmol/L (27.3–32.2), and arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2) 97.2 0.1% (96.6–98.0)