Evaluation of Haemato-biochemical Effects of Tiletamine-zolazepam Alone and in Combination with Xylazine or Xylazine-ketamine in Atropinized Dogs

Background: Tiletamine-zolazepam is a good injectable anaesthetic widely used in veterinary patients and thus the present study was planned to evaluate the effect of tiletamine-zolazepam alone and in combination with xylazine and xylazine-ketamine in dogs. Methods: Eighteen dogs irrespective of age, breed, sex and body weight (requiring various surgical corrections) were randomly divided into three groups namely A, B and C. Atropine sulphate was administered in all the groups followed by tiletamine-zolazepam in group A, xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam in group B and xylazine, ketamine and tiletamine-zolazepam in group C. The efficacy of the anaesthesia was evaluated at different time intervals upto recovery by observing clinical, physiological and haemato-biochemical parameters. Result: Induction dose of tiletamine-zolazepam observed in group A, B and C was 6.5, 5.5 and 4.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Induction time values were decreased and duration of anaesthesia was increased from group A to group C. All physiological parameters differs significantly (p less than 0.05) between the groups. Mean values of Hb, TEC, PCV, TLC, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and total proteins showed transient decrease whereas neutrophils, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, plasma glucose, BUN and serum creatinine showed transient increase in all the groups at 30 and 60 minutes. Haemato-biochemical parameters approached to baseline values upto 24 hours. Thus, it can be concluded that the various combinations of tiletamine-zolazepam with pre-medicants like xylazine and xylazine-ketamine was found to be safe with regard to their effects on haemato-biochemical parameters.