Evaluation of cardiopulmonary, haematological and biochemical responses of chlorpromazine or chlorpromazine-pentazocine sedated West African Dwarf goats

Abstract

Goats respond to pain and often require chemical restraints for veterinary procedures. Information regarding the cardiopulmonary, haematological and biochemical effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ) or chlorpromazine-pentazocine (CPZ-PTZ) in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats has not been fully established. The study aimed to evaluate the cardiopulmonary, haematological and biochemical responses of WAD goats following sedation with either CPZ alone or a combination of CPZ-PTZ. Six healthy adult WAD bucks were randomly selected for two separate experiments using CPZ or CPZ-PTZ in a prospective crossover trial. Anaesthetic indices were taken. Blood samples were collected before the experiment (0 minutes), 45 minutes, 90 minutes and 24 hours for haematology and serum biochemistry assay. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (°C) were measured at intervals of 10 minutes for 90 minutes. In between clinical trials, the bucks were given a 14-day break. The duration of recumbency for CPZ (43.00 ± 12.95 minutes) was significantly lower compared to the CPZ-PTZ protocol (46.50 ± 27.32 minutes). Analgesia was recorded in only the CPZ-PTZ group for 41.67 ± 1.75 minutes. The HR was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the CPZ-PTZ group than in the CPZ group from 0 to 70 minutes. The CPZ-PTZ protocol was a better one as it did not exert a negative effect on the red blood cells or serum protein compared with CPZ alone in the goats. Haematological, biochemical and cardiopulmonary changes were also evident in the goats. Further research may determine the risk-benefit profile of this anaesthetic regimen.