Hemato-biochemical changes during xylazine-ketamine and xylazine-thiopentone anesthesia in dogs

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate certain haemato-biochemical changes during Xylazine-Ketamine (X-K) and Xylazine-Thiopentone (X-T) anesthesia in dogs.Methods: For this, six dogs of 18 to 25 kg BW were selected and divided into two groups: Group I (X-K) and Group II (X-T). Atropine sulfate @ 0.05 mg/kg BW (IM) was used for premedication in both groups. Dogs in Group I (n=3) were anaesthetized with Xylazine HCl @ 1.1 mg/kg BW (IM) and Ketamine HCl @ 5.5 mg/kg BW (IM), whereas Xylazine HCl @ 1.1mg/kg BW (IM) and Thiopentone sodium @ 20 mg/kg BW (IV) were used for anesthesia in Group II (n=3). In both groups, peripheral blood samples were collected from the dogs before induction of anesthetic agents (control) and thereafter on 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes of post-induction and again after complete recovery from anesthesia to evaluate hematological changes in Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC), Haemoglobin (Hb) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV). In addition, serum biochemical changes in Total Serum Protein (TSP), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Creatinine, Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), and Chloride (Cl) were also assessed in both groups.Results: TEC, Hb, and PCV were altered significantly (P<0.05) in most of the cases, TSP was decreased significantly (P<0.05) but BUN was increased significantly (P<0.05), and creatinine was also increased in both groups during the experiment. There were mild alterations in Na, K, and Cl values after induction, and found near to the baseline (control) after recovery.Conclusions: These findings ascertained that the anesthetic combinations of X-K and X-T assert some definite haemato-biochemical changes in dogs which should be carefully judged by the veterinarians during surgical interventions to avoid anesthesia-related risks and complications.