Comparison of the electrocardiographic findings, heart rates, cloacal temperatures, respiratory rates, and anaesthetic effects of medetomidine- ketamine and detomidine-ketamine combination in the buzzards (Buteo buteo)

Abstract

Aim of the present study was to compare the electrocardiographic findings, heart rate, cloacal tem-perature, respiratory rate, and anaesthetic effects of medetomidine-ketamine to detomidine-ketamine in buzzards. Fourteen buzzards of unknown sex and age and weighing a mean +/- standart deviation (SD) of 789.29 +/- 82.97 g were included in the study. The buzzards were randomly assigned to two groups: MK group (0.1 mg kg-1 medetomidine and 10 mg kg-1 ketamine 10 minutes after medetomidine application) and group DK (0.3 mg kg-1 detomidine and 10 mg kg-1 ketamine 10 minutes after medetomidine application). Heart rates (HR), respiratory rates (fR), and cloacal temperatures (CT) were recorded before administration of any drug (0) and then 5 and 10 minutes after medetomidine and 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes after ketamine. At this point, atipamezole (0.5 mg/kg, IM) was administered and measurement recorded at 5, 10 and 15 minutes. Serum electrolyte and blood gases were measured before and during anesthesia. Elec-trocardiogram was recorded before and during anesthesia. Distribution and suitability of the data were evaluated by the Shapiro-Wilks test. Statistical tests were performed via two-way variance analysis in repeated measures, and multiple comparisons were corrected with the post-hoc Generalized Linear Model (GLM). Differences were considered to be statistically significant if p < 0.05. Onset of anesthesia time was 4.1 +/- 2.3 and 3.9 +/- 1.3 minutes (mean +/- standard deviation) in groups MK and DK, respectively. Reflexes (righting reflex, toe pinch reflex, feather plucking reflex, palpebral reflex) disappeared studied in both groups during anesthesia. HR,fR , and CT were significantly decreased in both groups (p < 0.001). Baseline blood gases values showed significantly increases in pCO2 and HCO3 and decreases in pH and pO2 during anesthesia in both groups (p < 0.05). In conclusions medetomidine-ketamine and detomidine-ketamine combinations were both sufficient to provide desired level of anesthesia, analgesia and muscle relaxation.