Use of low doses of xylazine as an essential tool for sedation, anxiolysis and analgesia in small animal shelter population

Abstract

One of the most demanded surgical procedures in veterinary medicine is ovariohysterectomy. Drugs such as ketamine and Xylazine are used for induction of anaesthesia and control post-anaesthetic pain. Xylazine has been replaced in general veterinary practice for medetomidine and dexmedetomidine more selective alfa2 agonist but much more expensive. The aim of this work is to study the cardiopulmonary effects of the administration of low doses of xylazine in combination with the ketamine to show that low doses of xylazine provide effective sedation and analgesia in elective ovariohysterectomy in small animal population. For this purpose, a total of 20 randomized female under elective ovariohysterectomy in the Insular Shelter of Gran Canaria were performed and sedation protocol was established by the combination of xylazine (Xylagesic) 0,3 mg/kg plus ketamine (Imalgene 1000) 10 mg/kg SC after physical examination. A microdose of xylazine (0.05 mg/kg) IV was used if rescue analgesia was required. Sedation level and all physiological parameters, isoflurane requirement and quality of recovery were also monitored. No important cardiovascular or respiratory changes were observed and the quality of recovery was good. In conclusion, we considered that the use of xylazine provides an effective sedation and analgesia in combination with ketamine in elective ovariohysterectomy in small animal shelter population