Anesthesia for the Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus

Abstract
Anesthetics can be administered to the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, by means of special ventilating equipment and intubation techniques. Nitrous oxide has been administered successfully on six occasions, and has produced definite signs of anesthesia. These developments open the possibility of performing major surgery in this species for the first time.