Atropine-medetomidine-ketamine as balanced anaesthesia for neonatal calves: sedative, clinical and haematobiochemical studies

Thirteen healthy neonatal male calves following atropinization, were administered i.m. a combination of medetomidine HCl (0.015 mg/kg b. wt) and ketamine HCl (10.0 mg/kg b. wt). Surgical anaesthesia was induced in 4.5 ± 0.50 min and the peak effect remained for 28 to 45 min. Head shaking was observed in all the animals. Complete muscle relaxation with depressed swallowing reflex was observed up to 45 min interval. There was no significant change in rectal temperature and heart rate at different intervals. However, increase in respiratory rate was significant at 5, 15, and 30 min intervals. All the haematological parameters remained within the normal range. Significant hyperglycemia was observed 15 min onwards until 75 min. A non-significant increase in BUN was noticed up to 75 min. It was concluded that atropine-medetomidineketamine can safely be used in bovine neonates for achieving surgical anaesthesia in clinical practice.