Long-acting neuroleptics used in wildlife management do not impair thermoregulation or physical activity in goats (Capra hircus)

Long-acting neuroleptics commonly are used in wildlife management to decrease stress-related mortality in wild animals, but with possible effects on thermoregulation, which may contribute to residual morbidity and mortality. We investigated the effects of haloperidol (0.01, 0.1, 1 mg kg− 1, n = 4), zuclopenthixol (0.1, 1, 10 mg kg− 1, n = 4) and perphenazine (0.1, 1, 10 mg kg− 1, n = 8), as well as control injections of sunflower oil, on body temperature and physical activity of laboratory goats under hot, cold and thermoneutral ambient temperatures. Implanted data loggers continuously recorded abdominal temperature, and data loggers attached externally on the foreleg recorded movement of unrestrained goats, in a climatic chamber at 35 °C, 10 °C and 22 °C. Cycling ambient temperature between 35 °C in daytime and 10 °C at night time caused a significant increase in amplitude of the circadian rhythm of body temperature in goats given sunflower oil (P = 0.0012, unpaired t-test, n = 8), but the administration of zuclopenthixol or perphenazine did not affect this change in amplitude (P > 0.05, two-way ANOVA, n = 4). Mean daily body temperature after administration of zuclopenthixol or perphenazine, and mean daily activity after zuclopenthixol administration, were not significantly different to those after control injections, at any ambient temperature, for the expected duration of drug activity (all P > 0.05, two-way ANOVA, n = 4). Thermal response indices, and mean activity, during heat, cold or thermoneutral exposure, of goats for 7 h after haloperidol injection, were not significantly different, at any dose or any ambient temperature, to those following control injections (all P > 0.05, repeated measures ANOVA, n = 4). Long-acting neuroleptics did not impair activity or thermoregulation of goats subjected to inescapable thermal challenges.