Effects of Combinations of Medetomidine-Diazepam-Ketamine and Medetomidine-Ketamine Anesthesia on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry in Dogs

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of combinations of medetomidine-diazepamketamine and medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia haematology and serum chemistry in dogs. Ten (10) apparently healthy local dogs comprising of five (5) females and five (5) males with Mean ± SD body weight of 20.4 ± 2.93 kg sought from Maiduguri and environs and randomly allocated into two groups A (n=5), B (n=5) were used to conduct the experiment for this study. Total Intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) was induced in all the dogs. Dogs in group A were premedicated with an intravenous injection of 0.005 mg/kg Medetomidine, followed by an intravenous injection of 0.25 mg/kg Diazepam and 4 mg/kg Ketamine combination 3 – 5 minutes later. Meanwhile group B dogs were given an intravenous injection of Medetomidine (0.005 mg/kg) and Ketamine (5 mg/kg) combination. Blood sample was collected for haematological analysis while serum was collected to assay Total protein (TP), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine (Cr) using standard laboratory protocols. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the measured haematological indices, ALT, BUN, Cr and TP in both groups A and B throughout the study. However, there was non-significant decrease in ALT, BUN, Cr and TP in both groups up to 30 minutes post administration of the drug combinations but return to almost baseline values at 60 minutes post anaesthesia. The results of this study showed that intravenous administration of Medetomidine-Diazepam-Ketamine and Medetomidine-Ketamine combinations have no significant effects on haematological indices and serum chemistry profile of dogs. Therefore, these anaesthetic combinations can be prescribed for clinical use and procedures in dogs.