Anaesthetic evaluation of detomidine and diazepam in buffalo calves

Healthy, male buffalo calves (8) of 6-8 months of age, weighing between 70 and 100 kg were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 4 animals each. Animals of group 1 were given detomidine @ 100 mug/kg, whereas detomidine 100 mug/kg and diazepam 100 mug/kg were administered simultaneously in animals of grou p 2 through i/v route. To evaluate anaesthetic effects of these drugs, anim als were observed for onset time, down time, recovery time, and status of v arious reflexes and heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and EC G up to 90 min after administration of the drugs. A shorter onset time was recorded in animals of group 2 with recumbency in 75.00+/-15.00 sec whereas , animals of group I remained standing during the period of observation. De tomidine alone in group 1 caused only mild sedation, muscle relaxation whil e pin prick reflex remained intact. Addition of diazepam to detomidine in a nimals of group 2 resulted in deep sedation, excellent muscle relaxation an d 5 to 10 min of surgical anaesthesia. Heart rate decreased significantly i n both the groups. Respiration, however, increased in group 1 and decreased in group 2. Rectal temperature and ECG showed only minor changes. The stud y suggested that detomidine @ 100 mug/kg fails to produce sedation/analgesi a of any clinical significance in buffalo calves while addition of diazepam potentiates the effect of detomidine with good sedation/analgesia and shor t duration of surgical anaesthesia.