CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF ROMIFIDINE KETAMINE HALOTHANE ANESTHESIA IN HORSES

Romifidine, 100 mug/kg administered by intravenous injection, was eval uated as a premedicant to ketamine/halothane anaesthesia in 60 horses. Sedation developed within one to two minutes. In three cases mild sta ggering occurred within two minutes. Anaesthesia was induced after riv e minutes by the intravenous administration of ketamine (2 to 2.2 mg/k g). A mean time of 79 seconds elapsed before lateral recumbency was ad opted. Fifty-four of the horses sank smoothly to the floor, with occas ional steps sideways. Jaw tone, limb rigidity and mild muscle tremors often persisted for short periods after induction. Complete relaxation was achieved on average two minutes after the administration of ketam ine. The transition to oxygen/halothane anaesthesia was excellent or g ood in 53 cases. The mean duration of anaesthesia was 79 minutes. Fort y-seven of the horses were able to stand after one or two attempts wit h little or no ataxia. After halothane administration ceased, the mean time to sternal recumbency was 25 minutes and the mean time to standi ng was 33 minutes. Most horses appeared to be sedated upon standing, b ut they were able to walk soon after regaining their feet. The charact eristics of the induction of anaesthesia were similar to those seen wh en detomidine/ketamine or xylazine/ketamine are used. The maintenance of anaesthesia with halothane was similar to that following other indu ction protocols, and the recovery from anaesthesia was smooth and free from excitement.