Effect of ketamine hydrochloride induced anaesthesia on Psammophis sibilans

This study sought to determine the actual dose of ketamine hydrochloride to be used to achieve surgical plane of anaesthesia in hissing sand snake (Psammophis sibilans). Ketamine hydrochloride was administered intravenously to the snakes at different doses based on their body weight, and some physiological parameters were monitored. Twelve snakes divided into four groups A, B, C and D were administered ketamine hydrochloride intravenously at 60 mg/kg, 46 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg respectively. With 40 mg/kg, a good plane of surgical anaesthesia was achieved in this species of snakes. The dose was able to achieve both anaesthesia and analgesia. Other dose recommended for anaesthesia was 30 mg/kg. It is concluded that dose higher than 46 mg/kg may cause the death of the animal. These result shows that ketamine hydrochloride is generally effective at 40 mg/kg in the Psammophis sibilans, with no wide individual variation in the time to onset (3.5±0.7 mins), duration of anaesthesia (23.5±9.19 mins), and time to recovery (36.5±25.1 mins).Keywords: Ketamine hydrochloride, Psammophis sibilans, righting reflex, anaesthesi

Cost-effectiveness of pin-in-fibreglass cast versus Kirschner-Ehmer type I external skeletal fixator in the management of transverse radius-ulna fractures in dogs

The cost of medical care is an important issue all over the world. With worsening global economy and the poverty inherent in low earning  economies in the third world countries, economic considerations have always remained a major determinant factor in the choice of treatment. In this study, the cost-effectiveness of pin-in-fibreglass cast fixator (PFCF) was comparatively evaluated against a commercially available fixator  (Kirschner-Ehmer type I external fixator) (KESF) in the management of induced closed transverse mid-shaft radius-ulna fractures in dogs. Four adult (2 males and 2 females) dogs with closed transverse mid-shaft radius-ulna fractures were used for this study. These dogs were randomly assigned to two groups (A and B) with each group made up of two dogs. Radius-ulna fractures were created in all the dogs under injectable anaesthesia as follows: Group A; PFCF, and Group B; KESF. A cost analysis was performed using the duration of operative and post-operative procedures, duration of morbidity period, direct and indirect labour cost, and cost of dog-hour lost during the morbidity period as economic indices. The overall duration of the operative and the entire post-operative procedures were 5.5±0.14 and 22±0.21 hours (1:4.4) for PFCF and KESF (P>0.05) respectively. The morbidity period was 9 and 8 weeks for PFCF and KESF respectively. The average cost of medical care (in 2015 $1 US ≈ N198 Nigerian Naira) was$81.8 and $294 (1:3.6) for PFCF and KESF respectively. The cost benefit analysis based on the economic loss due to dog-hour lost during the morbidity period were$990. 9 and $1103 (1:1.1) for PFCF and KESF respectively. In conclusion, PFCF is faster and easier to perform, and more economical than the KESF technique despite the longer morbidity period associated with it. This is accounted for by the lower cost of fixative and hospital charges.Keywords: Dog, Cost effectiveness, Pin-in-fiberglass cast, Kirschner-Ehmer external fixative, Radius-ulna, fracture

Antinociceptive and antipyretic properties of ethanol extract of Oryza bathii (Poaceae) in wistar rats

Ethanol extract of Oryza barthii obtained by cold maceration was investigated for antinociceptive and antipyretic activities using the hot plate and brewer’s yeast-induced hyperthermia methods, respectively in adult wistar rats. The medications used as positive control were piroxicam at 20 mg/kg intra-peritoneal (i.p) for the antinociceptive study and aspirin at 100 mg/kg i.p. for the antipyretic study and both induced significant delay in the reaction time of the rats to thermal stimulus and hyperthermia respectively. Oryza barthii (Poaceae) extract administered at dosages of between 125 – 500 mg/kg i.p, significantly delayed the reaction time of rats to thermal stimulus produced by the hot plate and reduced the hyperthermia in a dose-dependent manner. The results showed that O. barthii possesses antinociceptive and antipyretic activities, thus justifying the folklore use of the plant in traditional medicine for the control of fever and can be an alternative medicament in the management of pyrexia.Keywords: Analgesic, Antinociceptive, Antipyretic, intraperitoneal, Oryza barthii extrac