Epidural xylazine and detomidine with or without local anaesthetics in buffaloes: Haematological an.d biochemical changes

Abstract

Epidural administration of xylazine and detomidine with or without local anaesthetics (lignocaine and bupivacaine) caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in haemoglobin, packed-cell volume, total erythrocyte count and lymphocyte count and a significant increase (P<0.01) in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil count in buffaloes. Biochemical parameters viz. serum glucose, urea nitrogen, sodium and glutamate dehydrogenase showed a significant (P<0.01) increase, while potassium and chloride levels showed a significant (P<0.01) decrease between 0.25 to 1 hr in all the treatment groups except control. These values, however, returned near preadministration level within 24 hr. Thus epidural xylazine or detomidine with and without local anaesthetics can be safely used in buffaloes as it caused transient haematobiochemical : changes which were compensated within 24 hr.