A comparison of injectable anaesthetic regimens in mules.

Three combinations of injectable anaesthetic agents were compared in nine adult mules. The combinations were xylazine/ketamine (X/K), xylazine/butorphanol/ketamine (X/B/K), and xylazine/tiletamine-zolazepam (X/T). Measured variables were heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, arterial blood pH, PCO2 and PO2, recumbency time and number of attempts to stand. Quality of induction and recovery, muscle relaxation and response to stimulus were evaluated subjectively. Recumbency time was significantly (P < 0.05) longer with X/B/K and X/T than with X/K. Mules required significantly more attempts to stand under the influence of X/T than X/K or X/B/K. No statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure or arterial pH, PCO2 and PO2 were detected between groups.