A comparative study between using of Midazolam-Ketamine and Diazepam-Ketamine combinations as anaesthetic program in sheep

The present study was designed to compare the efficacy for using of the two anesthetics combinations (Midazolam-Ketamine and Diazepam-Ketamine). The effect of combinations on the length of surgical anesthesia, degree of flank analgesia, degree of muscle relaxation, respiratory rate, heart rate and rectal temperature were assayed in sheep.The experiment was conducted on ten apparently healthy adult sheep of either sex weighting (24-33kg). Sheep were divided in two equal groups, Diazepam (1mg/kg BW) +Ketamine (10mg/kg BW) group (D+K), Midazolam (1mg/kg BW) +Ketamine 10mg/kg BW group (M+K), was used by intramuscular injection, benzodiazepine derivative (diazepam or midazolam) injected first and then followed by ketamine 10minutes later.The following parameter were recorded at 3minutes before injection of drug and 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 75 minutes (min.) respectively after administration of anaesthetic drug (Rectal Temperature , Respiratory Rate , Heart Rate , Degree of Analgesia , Degree of Muscle relaxation), the induction time, surgical anaesthesia and recovery time also were recorded.The experiment showed that the anaesthesia with Midazolam + Ketamine combination in sheep was suitable compared with Diazepam + Ketamine as it produced reliable surgical anaesthesia, good analgesia and muscle relaxation.