Livestock Studies 1988, Vol 28, Num, 1-4     (Pages: 042-050)

Some clinical observations in sheep administered xylazine hydrochloride (rompun) and ketamine hydrochloride (ketalar)

Arif KURTDEDE 1 ,Mehmet Kazım BÖRKÜ 1 ,Mehmet GÜRKAN 2

1 A. Ü. Veteriner Fakültesi, İç Hastalıkları, Anabilim Dalı, Ankara
2 100. Yıl Ü. Veteriner Fakültesi, Cerrahi, Anabilim Dalı. Van
- In this study, the changes in pulse rate, respiration rate and body temperature in sheep administered xylazine alone or together with ketamine were investigated, The sedative, anaelgesic and muscle relaxant effects of these drugs were recorded.

Of the four sheep, the first one received 0.4 mg/kg xylazine alone, i.m. the second one received 0.4 mg/kg xylazine and 11 mg/kg i.m ketamine at the same time, the third one received 0.4 mg/kg xylazine and 3 mg/kg ketamine followed 30 minutes later by 3 mg/kg ketamine i.m. and the fourth one received 0.8 mg/kg xylazine and 3 mg/kg ketamine followed 30 minutes later by 3 mg/kg ketamine i.m.

The pulse rate and body temperature decreased while respiration rate increased within the five minutes of the trail.

The earliest sedation appeared in the third minute in the sheep given 0.4 mg/kg xylazine and 11 mg/kg ketamine simultaneusly becoming, severe in the 15. minute and continuing until the 60. minute of the injection. Anaelgesia and muscle relaxation also appeared ih the third minute. in the sixth minute the former became (***) and the latter became severe and they lasted about the 60. minute of the trial.

The sedation in the other three sheep started five minutes after injection, became severe in the 18., 35. and 35. minutes and remained pronounced for up to 45, 75 and 75 minutes respectively. Anaelgesia and muscle relaxation began in the fifth minute of the experiment. The analgesia became (***) in the 30. minute in the sheep given 0.4 mg/kg xylazine alone, in the 35. minute in the sheep given 0.4 mg/kg xylazine and 6 mg/kg ketamine and 0.8 mg/kg xylazine and 6 mg/kg ketamine and continued in that position up to 45, 60 and 60 minutes respectively. Muscle relaxation became moderate in the former one until the 90. minute and severe muscle relaxation didn't occur. While it became severe in the 14. minute in the latters and lasted until the 60. minute of the trail.

As a result, it can be said that 0.4 mg/kg i.m. xylazine combined with 11 mg/kg i.m. ketamine induced rapid, safe and prolonged sedation, anaelgesia and muscle relaxation without causing important side effects. Keywords :