Evaluation of Xylazine HCl as a Potential Anesthetic for Laprogastrotomy Operation in Dogs

The present study aimed to evaluate intramuscular xylazine HCl 2% as an anesthetic for laparogastrotomy in dogs at different doses. Twenty-seven dogs were divided randomly and equally into three groups; group A received 4 mg/kg, group B, received 8 mg/kg, and group C received 14 mg/kg. Anesthetic indices, effect on physiological parameters, blood gases, and biochemical parameters were recorded. The onset was 4.00 ± 0.00, 3.50 ± 0.33, and 5.00 ± 0.33 min, and the duration was 18.00 ± 2.50, 21.00 ± 7.20, and 28.00 ± 4.30 min in the groups A, B, and C, respectively. Pedal reflex was absent in groups A and B from 5 - 30 min post-injection. Palpebral reflex was absent in all groups from 20 - 30 min post-injection. All dogs recorded a non-significant decrease in the rectal temperature, but a significant decrease in respiratory and heart rates. There was a significant increase in the PvCO2 level and significant hyperglycemia in all dogs. Dogs in groups B and C exhibited a significant decrease in PvO2. There was a significant decrease in the serum cortisol level in the group B. Creatinine level recorded non-significant decrease in the group A, while there was a non-significant increase in the group B. There was non-significant decrease in GGT levels in the groups A and C. Xylazine at dose of 14 mg/kg established a satisfactory stable anesthesia that was enough to conduct laparogastrotomy in dogs.