Ketamine, Telazol, xylazine and detomidine. A comparative anesthetic drug combinations study in ponies.

This study was designed to assess the effects of 5 anesthetic drug combinations in ponies: (1) ketamine 2.75 mg/kg, xylazine 1.0 mg/kg (KX), (2) Telazol 1.65 mg/kg, xylazine 1.0 mg/kg (TX), (3) Telazol 2 mg/kg, detomidine 20 micrograms/kg (TD-20), (4) Telazol 2 mg/kg, detomidine 40 micrograms/kg (TD-40), (5) Telazol 3 mg/kg, detomidine 60 micrograms/kg (TD-60). All drugs were given iv with xylazine or detomidine preceding ketamine or Telazol by 5 min. Heart rate was decreased significantly from 5 min to arousal after TD-20 but only at 60 and 90 min after TD-40 and TD-60 respectively. Respiratory rate was decreased significantly for all ponies. Induction time did not differ between treatments. Duration of analgesia was 10 min for KX, 22.2 min for TX, 27.5 min for TD-20, 32.5 min for TD-40, and 70 min for TD-60. Arousal time was significantly longer with detomidine and Telazol. Smoothness of recovery was judged best in ponies receiving KX and TD-40. All ponies stood unassisted 30 min after signs of arousal.