Ten clinically healthy male buffalo calves of 6 to 8 months of age and weighing 70 to 90 kg were used. All the animals were used twice after a gap of 10 days and each treatment was given in 4 animals selected randomly. In animals of groups A, B and C, xylazine (@ 0.05 mg/kg), medetomidine (@ 15 mg/kg) and ketamine (@ 2mg/kg), respectively, were administered at 1st sacrococcygeal epidural space. In animals of group D a combination of xylazine @ 0.05 mg/kg) and ketamine (@ 2mg/kg) and in animals of group E medetomidine (@15 mg/kg) and ketamine (@ 2mg/kg) were administered at the same site. Ketamine in combination with xylazine and medetomidine induced significantly (P0.05) early onset and longer duration of analgesia than xylazine or medetomidine alone. A significant (P0.05) decrease in heart rate (HR) was recorded after xylazine and medetomidine administration. In animals of group C, HR was significantly (P0.05) higher than the animals of groups A and B. The bradycardia in animals of groups D and E was less pronounced as compared to animals of groups A and B. A significant (P0.01) decrease in respiratory rate (RR) was observed in animals of groups A and B. In animals of groups D and E fall in RR was significantly lesser as compared to animals of groups A and B, respectively. The results of the present study suggested that medetomidine induced prolonged and deeper plane of analgesia than xylazine but significant bradycardia and decrease in RR were recorded after the administration of both drugs. Addition of ketamine to these drugs not only increased the depth and duration of analgesia but also reduced the side effects of both xylazine and medetomidine. Ketamine, therefore, may be recommended for use along with the alpha-2 agonists for producing good quality regional analgesia.
Buffalo calves, Epidural analgesia, Ketamine, Medetomidine, Xylazine
