Anesthesia for rabbits in New Zealand using the combinations tiletamine-zolazepam and ketamine-midazolam with or without xylazine

In this study, anesthesia levels obtained with tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) et ketamine-midazolam (KM) with or without xylazine (X) were compared in rabb its. Reflexes (corneal, palpe- bral and withdrawal), blood parameters (PaO2 , PaCO2, pH and ions HCO3-), cardiovascular function (heart rate and mean a rterial blood pressure) and body temperature were evaluated before and afte r the injections of the anesthetic combination in the same rabbits (n = 10) . With KM and TZ, no suppression of reflexes occurred. The body temperature and pH decreased and HCO3- increased similarly to KMX et TZX. Some physiol ogical and blood parameters were less (PAM, PaCO2) and not (PaO2) affected comparatively to KMX et TZX. These protocols were of short duration of acti on and did not offer any anesthesia or analgesia. Therefore, their utilizat ion should be restricted to short procedures where no painful manipulations are performed. Ketamine-midazolam-xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam-xylazi ne on the other hand are indicated for interventions that require anesthesi a. With these combinations, all reflexes were absent for 30-45 and 60-90 mi n following injections of KMX et TZX, respectively. However, these combinat ions induce cardiac depression, as well as a decrease of all measured blood parameters and body temperature and a reduction of PaO2. Supplementation w ith oxygen is recommended with the introduction of xylazine in the protocol .