Observations on Xylazine-Ketamine-Isoflurane Anesthesia in Constrictor Snakes

Abstract Anesthetic management of the reptilian patient, including the design of the anesthetic protocol, is a challenge due to multiple anatomical and physiological features. Usually, anesthetic and analgesia protocols, including monitoring techniques, some of which are of low value, established in domestic animals are also applied to these patients. In the study were included five constrictor snakes in which, under xylazine-ketamine-isoflurane anesthesia, various surgical interventions lasting up to 50 minutes were performed. The severity of CNS inhibition as well as the length of different anesthetic times was monitored. The association used ensured the achievement of the surgical anesthesia depth and immobility with optimal conditions for performing surgical interventions in the oral cavity, cutaneous or amputation of hemipenis. The length of induction, surgical anesthesia and recovery fall within the limits recorded in the specialty literature for reptile.