Na. Caulkett et al., XYLAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE EPIDURAL ANALGESIA - A METHOD OF PROVIDING SEDATION AND ANALGESIA TO FACILITATE CASTRATION OF MATURE BULLS, The Compendium on continuing education for the practicing veterinarian, 15(8), 1993, pp. 1155-1159
Epidural administration of xylazine hydrochloride produces caudal anal
gesia in horses and cattle. In cattle, epidural administration of xyla
zine hydrochloride at a dose of 0.07 mg/kg diluted in saline produces
analgesia of the flank in addition to sedation. For analgesia of the s
crotum to be produced for castration, nerves as far cranial as L1 must
be blocked. The objective of the cited study is to determine whether
epidural administration of xylazine hydrochloride produces sufficient
analgesia and sedation for castration of mature bulls to be facilitate
d. Spinal alpha2 receptors inhibit the afferent pain pathways in the s
pinal cord. The result is a relatively selective blockade of sensory i
nformation without loss of motor function, Analgesic effects are well
tolerated in healthy animals, but epidural administration of xylazine
hydrochloride should be avoided in animals with cardiovascular or pulm
onary disease.