Analgesic and haematobiochemical effects of dexmedetomidine-ketofol-isoflurane anaesthesia in canine orthopaedic patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate analgesic and haematobiochemical effects during dexmedetomidine-ketofolisoflurane anaesthesia in canine orthopaedic patients. The study was conducted on 20 adult dogs presented to the referral veterinary polyclinics IVRI for different orthopaedic surgeries. The animals were randomly divided into 4 equal groups A, B, C and D. Atropine (0.04 mg/kg b. wt, i.m.) and dexmedetomodine (15 μg/kg b.wt, i.v.) were administered in all the groups as preanaesthetic agents. In group A, ketamine alone, in group B 1% propofol alone and in groups C and D ketofol in ratios of 1: 1 and 2: 1, respectively till effect, were used for anaesthetic induction. Anaesthesia was maintained by using isoflurane in all groups. Analgesic effect was evaluated at day 0 and day 1 postoperatively by UMPS. A significantly (P<0.05) reduced UMP score was observed in groups A and D as compared to groups B and C animals on day 0 postoperatively. In animals of the all groups, there was non significant (P>0.05) variation in the values of haemoglobin and TLC. In all the groups, plasma urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose and cortisol values did not show significant changes. Plasma insulin values decreased in all groups, with significant decrease in groups B and C. To conclude, preemptive analgesia produced by ketofol is comparable to that produced by ketamine when administered alone in atropinedexmedetomidine premedicated dogs undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Stress response was masked to a greater extent by dexmedetomidine and ketamine or ketofol.