Effects of epidural administration of ketamine/xylazine and ketamine/medetomidine combinations in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) Shekidef M.H.1,,*, Saleh S.Y.2 1Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt *Email: shekidef77@vet.suez.edu.eg
Online published on 3 September, 2012. Abstract This study was conducted on 6 healthy adult male camels, weighing 350–450 kg, to compare the effects of epidural administration of ketamine/xylazine (2.5 mg/kg and 0.17 mg/kg) and ketamine/medetomidine (2.5 mg/kg and 10 μg/kg) combinations. Each camel received both treatments in a randomised crossover design with one week interval. Analgesia, as it was assessed by pinprick test, was slower in onset and longer in duration after ketamine/medetomidine. Ataxia was mild in the ketamine/xylazine group for 75 min., while, only a very mild incoordination appeared after ketamine/medetomidine injection from 20 to 30 min. A moderate degree of sedation was recorded in both groups for up to 75 min. post injection while, ketamine/medetomidine showed a slower onset. Heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.05). Haematological parameters (Hb, PCV, TLC and RBCs) decreased significantly in both groups. Significant increase in serum glucose, LDH and urea was recorded while, serum creatinine and ALT decreased significantly in both groups. Serum sodium and potassium decreased significantly in both groups. The results showed that the combination of ketamine with medetomidine was superior to ketamine/xylazine combination, when used for epidural analgesia in camels, at these dose rates producing a comparable analgesia of perineal region and less degree of ataxia in hind limbs. Top Keywords Camel, epidural, ketamine, medetomidine, xylazine. Top |