Efficacy of Medetomidine Hydrochloride Alone and In Combination with
Ketamine Hydrochloride for Surgical Anesthesia in Cats
Hamid Akbar, Muhammad
Arif Khan, Shehla Gul Bokhari, Mansur Ud Din Ahmad1*,
Muhammad Nawaz2,
Aftab Ahmad Anjum2 and Humaira Majeed Khan3
Department of Clinical
Medicine and Surgery; 1Department of Epidemiology and
Public Health; 2Department of Microbiology, University of
Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Abdul Qadir Jillani Road, Lahore,
54000-Pakistan; 3Department of Pharmacy, Lahore College
for Women University, Lahore, 54000-Pakistan
*Corresponding author: mansuruddin@uvas.edu.pk
Abstract
Efficacy of medetomidine HCl (Med-HCl) as
sedative/analgesic alone and in combination with ketamine HCl (Ket-HCl) was
clinically evaluated during ovariohysterectomy in cats. Clinically healthy cats
(n=60) divided randomly into groups A, B and C (n=20 each). Cats in groups were
administered normal saline (control), Med-HCl alone and combination of Med-HCl
and Ket-HCl respectively. It was observed that body temperature, pulse and
respiratory rates tend to decrease overall in treated cats compared to control.
In group C, the onset of anesthesia was significantly shorter (P<0.05) whereas
duration of recumbency and recovery prolonged in relation to other groups,
suggesting superior efficacy of the combination. The analgesia and sedation
scores at 15, 30 45 and 60 minutes post administration indicated significantly
better efficacy of Med-HCl and Ket-HCl combination. The effects of the
anesthetic drugs on liver enzymes (serum alkaline phosphatase and alanine
aminotransferase) and kidney functions (urea,
creatinine and uric acid) were non-significant showing no harmful effects on
liver and kidney functions. Significant increase in the creatinine values were
seen in group C. Hematological parameters such as uric acid, hemoglobin, total
leukocyte count, differential leukocyte count showed non-significant changes in
groups B and C as compared to control, group A. No untoward effects of Ket-HCl
were appeared on use in combination with medetomidine. It was concluded that
combination of medetomidine with ketamine is safe and effective anesthesia for
feline surgical interventions.