Amir S Samimi1, Mohammad M Molaei2, Omid Azari2, Fatemeh Ebrahimpour2. 1. Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: Samimi@uk.ac.ir. 2. Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the sedative and clinical effects of intravenous (IV) administration of dexmedetomidine and xylazine in dromedary calves. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental, crossover, randomized, blinded study. ANIMALS: A total of seven healthy male dromedary calves aged 14 ± 2 weeks and weighing 95 ± 5.5 kg. METHODS: Calves were assigned three IV treatments: treatment XYL, xylazine (0.2 mg kg-1); treatment DEX, dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg-1); and control treatment, normal saline (0.01 mL kg-1). Sedation scores, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (fR), rectal temperature (RT) and ruminal motility were recorded before (baseline) and after drug administration. Sedation signs were scored using a 4-point scale. One-way anova and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Calves in treatments XYL and DEX were sedated at 5-60 minutes. Sedation had waned in XYL calves, but not DEX calves, at 60 minutes (p = 0.037). Sedation was not present in calves of any treatment at 90 minutes. HR decreased from baseline in XYL and DEX at 5-90 minutes after drug administration and was lower in DEX than XYL at 5 minutes (p = 0.017). HR was lower in DEX (p = 0.001) and XYL (p = 0.013) than in control treatment at 90 minutes. fR decreased from baseline in XYL and DEX at 5-60 minutes after drug administration and was lower in DEX than XYL at 5 minutes (p = 0.013). RT was unchanged in any treatment over 120 minutes. Ruminal motility was decreased in XYL at 5, 90 and 120 minutes and absent at 10-60 minutes. Motility was decreased in DEX at 5, 10 and 120 minutes and was absent at 15-90 minutes. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The duration of sedation from dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg-1) and xylazine (0.2 mg kg-1) was similar in dromedary calves.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the sedative and clinical effects of intravenous (IV) administration of dexmedetomidine and xylazine in dromedarycalves. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental, crossover, randomized, blinded study. ANIMALS: A total of seven healthy male dromedarycalves aged 14 ± 2 weeks and weighing 95 ± 5.5 kg. METHODS:Calves were assigned three IV treatments: treatment XYL, xylazine (0.2 mg kg-1); treatment DEX, dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg-1); and control treatment, normal saline (0.01 mL kg-1). Sedation scores, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (fR), rectal temperature (RT) and ruminal motility were recorded before (baseline) and after drug administration. Sedation signs were scored using a 4-point scale. One-way anova and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS:Calves in treatments XYL and DEX were sedated at 5-60 minutes. Sedation had waned in XYLcalves, but not DEXcalves, at 60 minutes (p = 0.037). Sedation was not present in calves of any treatment at 90 minutes. HR decreased from baseline in XYL and DEX at 5-90 minutes after drug administration and was lower in DEX than XYL at 5 minutes (p = 0.017). HR was lower in DEX (p = 0.001) and XYL (p = 0.013) than in control treatment at 90 minutes. fR decreased from baseline in XYL and DEX at 5-60 minutes after drug administration and was lower in DEX than XYL at 5 minutes (p = 0.013). RT was unchanged in any treatment over 120 minutes. Ruminal motility was decreased in XYL at 5, 90 and 120 minutes and absent at 10-60 minutes. Motility was decreased in DEX at 5, 10 and 120 minutes and was absent at 15-90 minutes. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The duration of sedation from dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg-1) and xylazine (0.2 mg kg-1) was similar in dromedarycalves.