A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF MEDETOMIDINE-BUTORPHANOL-KETAMINE AND MEDETOMIDINE-KETAMINE ANESTHESIA IN DOGS

The anaesthetic and cardiopulmonary effects of medetomidine (20 mu g/k g)-butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg)ketamine (MBK)(2.5, 5.0, 7.5 mg/kg) and mede tomidine (40 mu g/kg)-ketamine (5.0 mg/kg) (MK) were compared in dogs. The induction time (time from the initial injection of the sedative t o lateral recumbency by medetomidine-butorphanol (6.0 +/- 2.3 min) was significantly shorter than that by medetomidine alone (10.4 +/- 2.9 m in). The duration of anaesthesia induced by MK was shorter than that b y MBK2.5. The analgesic effects of MBK were more potent than those of MK. Mean arterial blood pressure increased significantly after adminis tration of the sedatives, and then decreased to base-line value after the ketamine injection and remained stable throughout the experimental period. Respiratory rate decreased gradually after the administration of each sedative and was depressed until 60 min after the ketamine in jection. MBK anaesthesia is effective and widely available for therape utic procedures depending upon the selection of the ketamine dose.