Abstract
The effects of acute exposure to 3 different temperature and humidity conditions on arterial blood-gas and acid-base balance in goats were investigated after intravenous bolus administration of xylazine at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. Significant (P<0.05) changes in the variables occurred under all 3 environmental conditions. Decreases in pH, partial pressure of oxygen and oxyhaemoglobin saturation were observed, and the minimum values for oxygen tension and oxyhaemoglobin saturation were observed within 5 min of xylazine administration. The pH decreased to its minimum values between 5 and 15 min. Thereafter, the variables started to return towards baseline, but did not reach baseline values at the end of the 60 min observation period. Increases in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, total carbon dioxide content, bicarbonate ion concentration, and the actual base excess were observed. The maximum increase in the carbon dioxide tension occurred within 5 min of xylazine administration. The increase in the actual base excess only became significant after 30 min in all 3 environments, and maximal increases were observed at 60 min. There were no significant differences between the variables in the 3 different environments. It was concluded that intravenous xylazine administration in goats resulted in significant changes in arterial blood-gas and acid-base balance that were associated with hypoxaemia and respiratory acidosis, followed by metabolic alkalosis that continued for the duration of the observation period. Acute exposure to different environmental temperature and humidity conditions after xylazine administration did not influence the changes in arterial blood-gas and acid-base balance.
Highlights
Xylazine is widely used in various animal species for its potent sedative, analgesic and myorelaxant properties[5]
It was speculated that the duration of the effect of xylazine might be altered during acute changes in environmental conditions, and result in increased morbidity or mortality
The administration of xylazine was associated with deep sedation, and changes in cardiopulmonary function[15] and body temperature[14]
Summary
Xylazine is widely used in various animal species for its potent sedative, analgesic and myorelaxant properties[5]. Reported adverse effects of xylazine are hypoxaemia, carbon dioxide retention and acid-base disturbances[4,5,6,7,10,11,16,17,21]. The field use of xylazine often requires the administration of this agent to compromised animals exposed to acute changes in environmental conditions. Xylazine administered to heat-stressed heifers resulted in a prolonged action of xylazine[8]. It was speculated that the duration of the effect of xylazine might be altered during acute changes in environmental conditions, and result in increased morbidity or mortality. The purpose of aDepartment of Companion Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
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