INTRAOSSEOUS CANNULATION AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA IN CHICKENS

Twenty-four chickens were randomly assigned to one of three treatments (ketamine, 30 mg/kg; thiopental, 20 mg/kg; saline, 0.8 mL). Baseline data (heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and cloac al temperature) were recorded before ulnar intraosseous cannulation an d administration of drug treatment and for 30 minutes after administra tion. One investigator, unaware of the treatment administered, assesse d the reaction to cannulation, number of attempts per cannulation, rea ction to injection, time to induction and recovery, and quality of ind uction and recovery. Respiratory rate increased significantly (p < .05 ) from baseline after thiopental. Other parameters did not vary within groups or between groups. Most birds did not react or had a mild reac tion to cannulation and injection, and on average fewer than two attem pts were necessary. Quality of recovery was significantly (p < .05) be tter after thiopental. Time to recovery was significantly (p < .05) sh orter after thiopental. No major histopathologic changes were noted in bone marrow samples from the injection site. This study demonstrates that the intraosseous route may be used to induce anesthesia in chicke ns, and that minimal changes in the variables studied were produced by ketamine and thiopental.