Anaesthetic evaluation of detomidine and diazepam in buffalo calves

Abstract

Healthy, male buffalo calves (8) of 6-8 months of age, weighing between 70 and 100 kg were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 4 animals each. Animals of group 1 were given detomidine @ 100 ug/kg, whereas detomidine 100 ug/kg and diazepam 100 ug/kg were administered simultaneously in animals of group 2 through i/v route. To evaluate anaesthetie effects of these drugs, animals were observed for onset time, down time, recovery time, and status of various retlexes and heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and ECG up to 90 min after administration of the drugs. A shorter onset time was recorded in animals of group 2 with recumbency in 75.00±15.00 sec whereas, animals of group 1 remained standing during the period of observation. Detomidine alone in group 1 caused only mild sedation, mnscle relaxation while pm prick retlex remained intact. Addition of diazepam to detomidine in animals of group 2 resulted in deep sedation, excellent muscle relaxation and 5 to 10 min of surgical anaesthesia. Heart rate decreased significantly in both the groups. Respiration, however, Increased in group 1 and decreased in group 2. Rectal temperature and ECG showed only minor changes. The >study suggested that detomidine @ 100 ug/kg fails to produce sedation/analgesia of any clinical significance in biffalo calves while addition of diazepam potentiates the effect of detomidine with good sedation/analgesia and short duration of surgical anaesthesia.