Deptt. of Surgery & Radiology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandary, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand-388001
Xylazine (0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06 and 0.07 mg/kg of body weight diluted to a 10 ml volume, using 0.9% NaCl) was administered epidurally into the first intercoccygeal space. Cows were observed for response to deep needle pricking, sedation and ataxia. Onset, duration, intensity and extent of analgesia and depth of sedation and ataxia were studied at different dosage. Epidurally administered xylazine (0.04, 0.05, 0.06 and 0.07 mg/kg) induced sedation and selective analgesia for at least 108 to 132 minutes, however, xylazine @ 0.03 mg/kg failed to induce analgesia. Most of the animals remained in standing position. Heart rate and respiratory rate decreased significantly as the dose was increased, whereas no change in rectal temperature was observed after epidural administration in xylazine. A dose rate of 0.05 mg/kg xylazine was found most suitable for caudal epidural analgesia in cattle.
Cattle, Epidural analgesia, Xylazine
