Lumbosacral epidural xylazine hydrochloride injection plus co-loading with lactated ringers solution: Effects on cardiovascular and haemato-biochemical variables of dogs

Objectives: Epidural xylazine hydrochloride (Hcl) injection often leads to hypotension and haemto-biochemical alterations in dogs. Crystalloid fluid administration is advised to counter xylazine’s hypotensive effect. Information is lacking concerning the effect of concomitant epidural Xylazine Hcl and lactated ringers administration on cardiopulmonary and haemato-biochemical parametersof dogs. Design: The dogs were randomized into group 1 (Epidural Xylazine-EXY alone), group 2 (EXY co-loaded with LRS at the rate of 10 ml/kg/hour), group 3 (EXY + 20ml/kg/hr LRS), and group 4 (EXY + 30ml/kg/hr LRS). Co-loading with EXY was done immediately after lumbosacral epidural injection of 1 mg/kg xylazine Hcl. Subsequently, cardiovascular and haemato-biochemical changes were recordedbefore administration of xylazine and subsequently at 30, 90 and 180 minutes. Result: Post treatment, pulse rate and heart rate decreased in all groups. Packed cell volume (PCV) of the groups decreased.  Haemoglobin concentrations (Hbc) of the LRS treated groups did not differ significantly (P>.05) when compared with Hbc of EXY group. Erythrocyte sedimentation rates increased in all the groups but did not vary significantly between the groups (P>0.05). Increase in potassium concentration was recorded in all the groups while sodium concentrations decreased. Conclusion: This study established that concomitant treatment with LRS did not further exacerbate the haematologic effects of epidural xylazine in dog

Effects of sub-anaesthetic (low) dose ketamine infusion on intra-operative and postoperative pain in goats anaesthetized with diazepam-ketamine prior to rumenotomy

The study evaluated the effect of sub-anaesthetic ketamine on peri- operative pain in goats anaesthesized with diazepam-ketamine prior to  rumenotomy. Nine West African dwarf goats used for the study were divided into three (3) groups (n=3). Group 1 received diazepam (0.5mg/kg IV) and ketamine (5mg/kg IV), group 2 received diazepam (0.5mg/kg IV),  ketamine (5mg/kg IV) and continuous IV infusion (CRI) ketamine  (20µg/kg/min) 30 minutes prior to rumenotomy and group 3 received  diazepam (0.5mg/kg IV), ketamine (5mg/kg IV) and CRI ketamine  (20µg/kg/min) followed by rumenotomy immediately. The mean rank pain scores of CRI ketamine groups 2 and 3 were lower than that of group 1 (control) during incision of rumen and suturing of skin, muscle and rumen. There were no significant difference in mean rank pain scores during  incision of skin (P=0.239), muscle (P=0.76), peritoneum (P=1.0) and rumen (P=0.083). Mean rank pain scores of the groups were not  significantly different during suturing of skin (P= 0.064) and muscle (P=0.064) but significantly different during rumen suturing (P=0.004). Respiratory rate (RR) of group 1 was significantly (p<0.05) higher than RR of other groups at 40 and 60 minutes IOP as well as at 60 minutes POS. At 80 minutes post-surgery, there was no significant difference in the RR across the groups (P˃0.05). On exertion of pressure on the site of incision wounds, goats in group 1 showed pain with outcry, those in group 2 showed no sign of pain while in group 3 moderate signs of pain were exhibited by goats. It was concluded that the sub-anaesthetic dose of ketamine infused (20µg/kg/min) did not effectively ameliorate intra-operative rumenotomy-induced pain in diazepam-ketamine anaesthesized goats. However less postoperative pain and hyperalgesia were recorded in the groups infused with low dose ketamine compared to the control group.Keywords: Diazepam, Ketamine, Pain, Rumenotomy, Sub-anaestheti