Lumbosacral epidural xylazine hydrochloride injection plus co-loading with lactated ringers solution: Effects on cardiovascular and haemato-biochemical variables of dogs

Abstract

Objectives: Epidural xylazine hydrochloride (Hcl) injection often leads to hypotension and haemto-biochemical alterations in dogs. Crystalloid fluid administration is advised to counter xylazine’s hypotensive effect. Information is lacking concerning the effect of concomitant epidural Xylazine Hcl and lactated ringers administration on cardiopulmonary and haemato-biochemical parameters
of dogs.

Design: The dogs were randomized into group 1 (Epidural Xylazine-EXY alone), group 2 (EXY co-loaded with LRS at the rate of 10 ml/kg/hour), group 3 (EXY + 20ml/kg/hr LRS), and group 4 (EXY + 30ml/kg/hr LRS). Co-loading with EXY was done immediately after lumbosacral epidural injection of 1 mg/kg xylazine Hcl. Subsequently, cardiovascular and haemato-biochemical changes were recorded
before administration of xylazine and subsequently at 30, 90 and 180 minutes.

Result: Post treatment, pulse rate and heart rate decreased in all groups. Packed cell volume (PCV) of the groups decreased.  Haemoglobin concentrations (Hbc) of the LRS treated groups did not differ significantly (P>.05) when compared with Hbc of EXY group. Erythrocyte sedimentation rates increased in all the groups but did not vary significantly between the groups (P>0.05). Increase in potassium concentration was recorded in all the groups while sodium concentrations decreased.

Conclusion: This study established that concomitant treatment with LRS did not further exacerbate the haematologic effects of epidural xylazine in dogs