A.I. Al-Mubarak, M.R. Abdin-Bey* and R.O. Ramadan
Camel Research Centre and *Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and
Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
Total intravenous anaesthesia using a combination of xylazine and ketamine was evaluated in 55 dromedary camels which underwent diverse major clinical surgeries. Preanaesthetic medication with xylazine was followed by induction and maintenance of anaesthesia by xylazine (0.16 - 0.2 mg kg-1) and ketamine (0.8 mg kg-1), intravenously. The mean anaesthetic time was 69.6 min, and a mean time interval between the injections was 20.96 ± 5.7 min. The heart and respiratory rates remained within the physiological limits during the anaesthesia. This combination has shown to produce safe and satisfactory anaesthesia in dromedary camels which under went major clinical surgeries.
Key words: Anaesthesia, camel, dromedary, ketamine, TIVA, xylazine