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Clinicophysiological Effects of Spinally Administered Ketamine and Its Combination with Xylazine and Medetomidine in Healthy Goats

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Abstract

The study was conducted in 9 healthy adult goats of either sex, weighing 15–20 kg, to evaluate and compare the clinicophysiological effects of spinally administered ketamine alone and in combination with xylazine and medetomidine. Nine trials each of the three treatments were conducted randomly by injecting ketamine (2.5 mg/kg) (n = 9), ketamine and xylazine (2.5 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg) (n = 9) and ketamine and medetomidine (2.5 mg/kg and 10 μg/kg) (n = 9). The drugs were administered at the lumbosacral subarachnoid space under strict aseptic conditions. The treatments were evaluated on the basis of clinicophysiological, haematological, biochemical and haemodynamic observations. Ketamine produced mild to moderate analgesia of the hindquarters. Its combination with either xylazine or medetomidine produced complete analgesia of the hindquarters for 45–60 min. Ataxia was moderate in the ketamine group, whereas animals attained sternal recumbency in the combination groups. A moderate degree of sedation was recorded in the combination groups. Heart rate and respiratory rate depression in the combination groups and heart rate and respiratory rate stimulation in ketamine group were recorded. Haematological parameters decreased in all the groups. Increase in serum glucose, creatinine and urea nitrogen was recorded in all the groups. Serum electrolytes did not show any significant change. The results showed that the combination of ketamine with xylazine or medetomidine at these dose rates produced a comparable degrees of analgesia of hindquarters with transient and minimal cardiopulmonary side effects.

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Abbreviations

ADH:

antidiuretic hormone

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

CNS:

central nervous system

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Hb:

haemoglobin

HR:

heart rate

NMDA:

N-methyl-D-aspartate

PCV:

packed cell volume

RR:

respiratory rate

RT:

rectal temperature

SUN:

serum urea nitrogen

TLC:

total leukocyte count

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgery, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India

    P. Kinjavdekar, G. R. Singh  (Amarpal), H. P. Aithal & A. M. Pawde

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  1. P. Kinjavdekar
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  2. G. R. Singh  (Amarpal)
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  3. H. P. Aithal
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  4. A. M. Pawde
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Correspondence to P. Kinjavdekar.

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Kinjavdekar, P., Singh, G.R., Aithal, H.P. et al. Clinicophysiological Effects of Spinally Administered Ketamine and Its Combination with Xylazine and Medetomidine in Healthy Goats. Vet Res Commun 31, 847–861 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-0049-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-0049-9

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