Honey, an unexplored topical wound dressing agent in Nigerian veterinary practice

This paper presents an overview of honey as a wound dressing agent, its mechanism of action, selected cases of wounds managed with honey and a survey of veterinarians’ perception and usage of honey for wound management in Nigeria. Structured  questionnaires were administered to veterinary practitioners predominantly in  Southwest Nigeria to evaluate their awareness, usage and concerns about honey as a wound dressing agent. Case reports of animal patients’ wounds managed with honey are presented in a logical fashion to showcase honey efficacy in wound management. There was remarkable healing with honey in the cases managed. Many of the respondents did not consider honey as first choice in wound management and availability of pure honey is a major concern expressed with honey use. More veterinarians in Nigeria should use honey for its high efficacy and cost effectiveness in the management of animal wounds.Keywords: Awareness, Dressing agents, Efficacy, Honey, Woun

A Comparison of xylazine/ketamine, diazepam/ketamine and acepromazine/ketamine anaesthesia in Rabbit

The efficacy and safety of the recommended intramuscular (im) clinical doses of xylazine-ketamine (5mg-35mg/kg), diazepam-ketamine (5mg-60mg/kg) and acepromazine-ketamine (5mg-75mg/kg) post administration were obtained, evaluated and compared using the following parameters in 10 apparently healthy rabbits: vital parameters (means of heart rates, respiratory rates and temperature), onset of loss of righting reflex, onset of analgesia, duration of analgesia, duration at recumbency and attempts to stand. Onset of loss of righting reflex was not significantly different (p>0.05) with xylazine-ketamine, diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine at 3.4±0.3, 2.0±0.0 and 2.6±0.3 minutes respectively. Diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine showed no analgesia while xylazine-ketamine had onset of analgesia and duration of analgesia of 4.2±0.1 and 57.0±0.7 minutes respectively. Duration of recumbency and first attempt to stand were longest with diazepam-ketamine, intermediate with acepromazine-ketamine and shortest with xylazine-ketamine of 184.4±3.3 and 42.0±1.4; 169.9±3.0 and 26.6±1.7; and 62±1.5 and 11.2±0.9 minutes respectively. Mean heart rate ranged between 173.2±6.6 to 187.2±7.5; 188.6±6.4 to 206.0±3.1 and 190.8±1.3 to 202.8±1.9 beats/minute with xylazine-ketamine, diazepam-ketamine, and acepromazine-ketamine respectively. Mean respiratory rate ranges were 58.4±3.5 to 133.0±11.2; 71.4±6.9 to 121.2±12.6 and 80.8±6.2 to 137.0±4.3 breaths/minute with xylazine-ketamine, diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine respectively. Mean temperature ranges were 39.9±0.1 to 40.0±0.1; 39.0±0.3 to 39.9±0.1 and 39.6±0.1 to 40.2±0.0:C with xylazine-ketamine, diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine respectively. In conclusion, all the three ketamine drug combinations produced unconsciousness and immobility, but only xylazine-ketamine provided additional analgesia. They were associated with normal heart rate and rectal temperature, as well as polypnoea of some clinical concern. Only xylazine-ketamine is potentially useful for painful procedures. Addition of specific analgesics to diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine may make them useful for painful procedures.Keywords: Acepromazine, Anaesthesia, Diazepam, Ketamine, Rabbit, Xylazin

'Managing a Necrotic Limb of African Dwarf Crocodile (OSTEOLAEMUS TETRASPIS) in Ibadan Zoological Garden: A Case Report’

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, VOL:33 (1) 395-39

Responses of rabbits to concurrent administration of Furosemide and Xylazine-Ketamine

The intramuscular (IM) administrations of 5 mg/kg xylazine, followed 30 min later by IM of 35 mg/kg ketamine alone (XK) or concurrently with IM of 1 mg/kg furosemide (XKF), were assessed in six healthy rabbits (4 bucks and 2 does) using selected anaesthetic indices (time to onset of anaesthesia, time to onset of analgesia, duration of analgesia, duration of recumbency/anaesthesia, and time to standing) as well as changes in heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) immediately following the loss of righting reflex and subsequently at 10 min intervals over a 60 min period of anaesthesia. Time to onset of anaesthesia with XKF group (4.4±1.5 min) was not significantly (P>0.05) different from that with XK group (4.6±0.9 min). Time to onset of analgesia with XKF rabbits (11.6±4.1 min) was similar to that with XK rabbits (11.2±2.0min). Duration of analgesia with XKF group (20.0±1.4min) was significantly s h o r t e r t h a n t h a t w i t h X K g r o u p (29.6±4.0min).The respective duration of recumbency/anaesthesia and time to standing with XKF group (79.6±7.7 min and 26.2±1.5 min) were significantly longer than those with XK group (61.4±7.5 min and 6.6±2.2 min). With XKF group, respective ranges of the mean HR, RR and RT were from 110.4±5.5 to 130.4±10.0 beats/min, 78.4±16.5 to 112.0±6.2 breaths/min and from 39.9±0.2 to 40.1 ± 0.2°C; while respective values with XK group were from 92.4±1.0 to 98.0±2.6 beats/min, 49.6±11.1 to 74.3±7.8 breaths/min and from 39.4±0.6 to 40.0±0.3°C. The mean values of HR and RR with XKF were significantly higher than those with the XK, whereas values of RT with both groups were similar throughout the period of the trials. It was concluded that administration of furosemide concurrently with xylazine-ketamine anaesthesia in healthy rabbits prolonged the duration of anaesthesia though it shortens the duration of analgesia.KEY WORDS: anaesthesia, concurrent, furosemide, ketamine, rabbits, xylazin

Comparison of Two Routes of Administration of Acepromazine-Ketamine Combination in the Rabbit

No Abstrac

Life saving tail amputation in an African lioness (Panthera leo L) in captivity

This paper reports surgical management of self- tail mutilation in an African lioness triggered by an irritation of unknown aetiology. The lioness was reported to have eaten up to two-third of its tail. Lack of darting facilities delayed quick intervention until the animal was lured with food bait into a restraint cage that enabled chemical restraint and surgical intervention. Tail amputation was performed as described for domesticated canine species. Healing was uneventful with animal returning to normal activities. Tail amputation is an uncommon procedure in wild species. Its curative indication was warranted in this case. There is need for storage of darting facilities in every zoological garden to aid quick intervention and preservation of animals especially endangered species in captivity.Keywords: Amputation, Lion, Self-mutilation, Tail, Therapeuti

Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences Life saving tail amputation in an African lioness (Panthera leo L) in captivity

Abstract This paper reports surgical management of self-tail mutilation in an African lioness triggered by an irritation of unknown aetiology. The lioness was reported to have eaten up to two-third of its tail. Lack of darting facilities delayed quick intervention until the animal was lured with food bait into a restraint cage that enabled chemical restraint and surgical intervention. Tail amputation was performed as described for domesticated canine species. Healing was uneventful with animal returning to normal activities. Tail amputation is an uncommon procedure in wild species. Its curative indication was warranted in this case. There is need for storage of darting facilities in every zoological garden to aid quick intervention and preservation of animals especially endangered species in captivity