2009, Vol. 4 No. 1, Article 34
Comparison of Different Ketamine-Xylazine Combinations M. Javdani Gandomania*, A. Tamadona , A. Mehdizadehb, H.R. Attarana
*Corresponding Author; e-mail address: [email protected]
ABSTRACT Twenty eight budgerigars of either sex were randomly divided into four groups and injected with ketamine (20, 40, 60 & 80mg/kg respectively) along with xylazine (10mg/kg) intramuscularly. The combination of 80mg/kg of ketamine with xylazine (10mg/kg) was found to produce the longest period (159.43 ± 15.87 min.) of anaesthesia. However, some cataleptic effects of ketamine were also recorded in birds of this group. KEY WORDS Xylazine, ketamine, budgerigar, injectable anesthesia. INTRODUCTION Proper general anaesthesia is a prerequisite of all major and minor surgeries in birds. Although inhalation anesthesia (using isoflurane) is recommended for birds but non availability of a portable anesthesia unit, especially for the wild birds and its use in field conditions, due to several technical intricacies is impossible [3]. On the other hand, anesthesia induced and maintained by injectable agents is rapid, cheap and needs less equipment. Several injectable drugs are used in birds. They include barbiturates, chloral hydrate, phenothiazine derivatives, alpha 2-agonists, ketamine and propofol [1,9,10,13]. Ketamine is used only in combination with other agents like alpha 2-agonists to neutralize their individual side effects [2,4,12]. Reports regarding use of this combination in surgeries where anaesthesia is required for a protracted period are lacking. Therefore, an experiment was designed to study the stages and duration of anaesthesia using different dosages of ketamine with xylazine in budgerigars. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty eight budgerigars aged four months belonging to both sexes and each weighing 30-35g, were randomly divided into four groups (seven per group). Before induction of anaesthesia all the birds were kept off-feed for one hour only. The induction was accomplished at room temperature in a semi-dark, calm environment. Xylazine (Alfazyne®, 2%, Woerden, Netherlands) @ 10mg/kg was mixed with Ketamine (10%, Woerden, Netherlands) @ 20, 40, 60 or 80mg/kg and injected into the brachial musculature of birds of group I to IV respectively. The time taken from injection to ataxia, falling and loss of pain reflex was recorded as the induction time. Intervening period till recovery of the pain reflexes was recorded as the maintenance period. The time required for regaining complete consciousness and standing without ataxia was considered as the recovery period. To confirm the loss of pain during the maintenance period, one centimeter longitudinal cutaneous incision was given at the cranial aspect of thigh (under aseptic conditions). Results and data were evaluated by adopting statistical methods of ANOVA (Tukey HSD). RESULTS
The values of induction, maintenance and recovery periods from anaesthesia in budgerigars have been presented in table 1.
DISCUSSION
In birds subjected to general anaesthesia endotracheal intubation is required to supply oxygen and institute positive pressure ventilation whenever cardiopulmonary emergencies arise. However, in this study tracheal intubation was not attempted in budgerigars as their dry mucosa could hinder the passage of tube and increased resistance to the air flow due to the narrow trachea of this bird was apprehended. The injection site chosen in this study was brachial musculature. Less bleeding was noticed at this site as compared to the femoral muscles in a previous pilot study.
REFERENCES
TABLE 1 Mean ± SD values of induction, maintenance and recovery from anaesthesia using various xylazine-ketamine combinations in the budgerigars.
a, b Values with
different superscripts in the same column differ
significantly (P ≤
0.05).
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