Clinico-physiological response of xylazine, ketamine alone and in combination for lumbar epidural analgesia in buffalo calves

Abstract

The present study was conducted on five clinically healthy non descript, male buffalo calves aging 6 to 8 months to evaluate the efficacy of xylazine, ketamine alone and in combination with xylazine and ketamine for lumbar epidural analgesia. The calves were randomly divided into three group viz- Group A xylazine alone, Group ketamine B alone and in Group C xylazine and ketamine. The onset of analgesia was significantly higher in Group C (3.92±0.16 minutes) as compared to Group B (6.20±0.59 minutes) and Group A (12.64±0.41 minutes). Xylazine alone and in combination with ketamine induced very mild to mild analgesia between 10 to 20 minutes and moderate analgesia between 30 to 60 minutes of thorax and flank while very mild to mild analgesia from 20 minutes to the end of observation in inguinal, perineum, hind limbs and tail region.

Duration of analgesia was also significantly higher in Group C animals (144.80±2.26 minutes) as compared to Group A (131.80±3.42 minutes) and Group B (28.60±1.85 minutes). Salivation was observed in all the groups whereas, it was mild to moderate in Group A, moderate to mild in Group B and extreme in Group C animals. The recovery time was the highest in Group C animals (195±2.83 minutes) followed by Group A (149.60±1.74 minutes) and Group B (39.40±1.42 minutes). The mean respiration rate and heart rate decreased significantly (P<0.05) in Group A and C. Whereas respiration rate and heart rate increased significantly (P<0.05) in Group B.