Clinical Evaluation of Xylazine and Dexmedetomidine as a Preanaesthetic with Tiletamine-Zolazepam Anaesthesia in Dogs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.3.26Keywords:
Dexmedetomidine, Dogs, Preanaesthetic medication, Tiletamine-zolazepam, Xylazine.Abstract
The present clinical study evaluated the dose-sparing effects, maintenance anaesthetic requirements, the quality of sedation, induction, maintenance anaesthesia and recovery following xylazine and dexmedetomidine premedication in dogs undergoing tiletamine zolazepam anaesthesia. A total of 12 dogs were presented for major surgical procedures. They were randomly divided into two groups: Group I received xylazine (@ 1 mg/kg BW, I/M) and Group II received dexmedetomidine (@ 0.01 mg/kg BW, I/M), followed by intravenous induction with tiletamine-zolazepam (@ 3 mg/kg BW) and maintenance with the same at one-half of the induction dose. Both alpha‑2 adrenergic agonists produced similar fair-grade sedation. Premedication with xylazine showed a better, dose-sparing effect than dexmedetomidine. Anaesthetic depth was stable, reflex responses were adequately suppressed and recovery was excellent in all dogs and significantly longer recovery time was observed in group II than group I. Overall, xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam offered superior results in terms of intubation ease, muscle relaxation and complications than the dexmedetomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam combination.
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