Evaluation of atropine-diazepam-ketamine induced anaesthesia during neutering programme in adult and geriatric dogs

In the present study 24 dogs were randomly divided into two groups viz., Group I: adult group (3 to 8 years) and Group II: geriatric group (above eight years) consisting of twelve animals in each group with six males and six females. Anaesthesia was induced with administration of diazepam (1 mg/kg b.wt) and ketamine (10 mg/kg b.wt) intravenously after ten minutes of subcutaneous administration of atropine sulphate (0.04 mg/kg b.wt). Then neutering was performed on all dogs under aseptic condition. Clinical parameters were observed at 0, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 min, while heparinised blood was collected at 0, 15, 45 and 90 min interval for haemato-biochemical observations. Induction of anaesthesia was smooth in both the groups. However, time of induction was less in adult group than geriatric group. Duration of surgical anaesthesia, time of head lift, time of sternal recumbency and time of recovery were less in adult group as compared to geriatric group and those were also less in males as compared to females within groups. Time of stand was higher in adult group as compared to geriatric group of dogs. Swallowing, palpebral and pedal reflexes were lost, while corneal reflex persisted in all the animals during anaesthesia. Significant increase in pulse rate whereas significant decrease in respiratory rate and temperature were noticed in both the groups. However, significant decrease was noted at 20 min in dL/haemoglobin saturation of oxygen in adult female only. Significant decrease in haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count were noticed in both the groups. Neutrophils were found significantly increased and eosinophils were significantly decreased in adult age group of dogs. However, significant decrease was noted in packed cell volume and platelets only in adult group of dogs. Mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were altered non-significantly in both groups. Only at 45 min observation significant increase in glucose was noticed in geriatric group. Whereas, significant decrease in total proteins and aspartate aminotransferase were noticed only in adult group. Significant decrease in creatinine, total cholesterol and non-significant changes in alanine aminotransferase were noticed in both groups. The present study indicated that use of atropine-diazepamketamine anaesthesia was safe and useful in adult as well as geriatric group of dogs during neutering.