Evaluation of epidural xylazine and ketamine for the management of post-traumatic pain in goats

Acute pain and inflammation was induced by injection of turpentine oil (0.15 mL) inleft hock joint under thiopental anaesthesia intwelve, nondescript goats of either sex divided in 3 groups. Normal saline 4 ml (group A) and xylazine and ketamine @ 0.05 mg/kg and 2mg/kg body weight (group B) were administered post-traumatically at lumbosacral epidural space to evaluate and compare their analgesic potency with diclofenac sodium administered @ lmg/kg body weight (group C) in post-traumatic pain and stress management. All the drugs were administered at the interval of 2, 24, 48 and 72 hr after induction of arthritis.

Analysits of clinical and haetnato-biochemical data suggested severe posttraumatic changes and stress response in animals of group A as evidenced by increased HR, RR, RT, joint warmth, hyperalgesia, swelling, pain (lameness), leukocytosis, hyperglycaemia, neutrophilia, increased trypsin inhibitor and fibrinogen and decreased lymphocytes and feed intake. The post-traumatic treatment with epidural xylazine and ketamine resulted in early suppression of changes in these parameters as compared to that seen with intramuscular diclofenac sodium. It was concluded that the combination of epidural xylazine and ketamine for 3 days may be recommended as a suitable analgesic protocol for the management of post-traumatic pain and stress in animals.