Detomidine-diazepam-ketamine anaesthesia in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves

Eight buffalo calves (8-12 months, 70-100 kg) were randomly assigned to two groups of four animals each. Animals of group I were given detomidine (100 mu g/kg), whereas animals of group II received a mixture of detomidine (10 0 mu g/kg), diazepam (100 mu g/kg) and ketamine (3 mg/kg) (DDK) intravenous ly. Various clinical parameters, such as weak time, down time, pedal and pi nprick reflexes, muscle relaxation and extent of sedation, as well as heart and respiratory rates and electrocardiograms were measured before (time 0) and 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min after treatment. In all the animals of g roup II (DDK), the pedal reflex was completely abolished (score: 3.00 +/- 0 .00) within 5 min, the pinprick response was either very weak or it was com pletely abolished at this interval. Muscle relaxation and sedation were exc ellent within 5 min of DDK administration. The depth of sedation and analge sia was maximum from 5 to 15 min postinjection. Detomidine alone, however, failed to produce appropriate depression of the pedal and pinprick reflexes , sedation was mild and muscle relaxation was inadequate. Heart rate showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in group I, but the decrease was non-sig nificant in soup II. A more pronounced increase in respiratory rate was obs erved in group I as compared to group II. Animals of both groups recovered within 90 min without any complication. Minimal changes in the cardiovascul ar system in the group given the DDK combination were an advantage over the soup given detomidine. The results indicated that DDK combination is safe and suitable for 15 min of anaesthesia with excellent muscle relaxation and has only limited cardiorespiratory effects in buffaloes.