Effects of Combination of Ketamine-Medetomidine Anaesthesia on Haematology and Some Serum Chemistry Parameters in Dogs

Abstract

The effects of combination of ketamine-medetomidine intravenous anaesthesia on haematological parameters and serum chemistry were evaluated in six dogs weighing 12.75 ± 2.7 kg comprising 4 females and 2 males. Each dog was given recommended dose of the drugs combination: medetomidine at 0.04mg/kg body weight IV and  ketamine at 5mg/kg body weight IV. Pre injection blood samples were taken and at 30mins interval during anaesthesia in plain and EDTA bottles and later analyzed. The parameters evaluated were Packed Cell Volume   (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell (RBC), White Blood Cell (WBC) and Differential Leucocyte Count (DLC: neutrophil, eosinophils basophils lymphocytes and monocytes) and serum chemistry: creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alanine amino transferase (ALT).

The ketamine-medetomidine combination produced significant decreases in PCV and RBC at 90mins (32 ± 6.2%) and (4.96 ± 1.4×10⁶/µl) and haemoglobin (12 ± 1.9g/dl) while WBC values showed significant increase at 60 minutes (15.4 ± 0.5×10³/µl) compared with pre injection values. BUN values did not differ significantly compared with pre value while CRE increase significantly at 60 minutes (71.8 ± 23.7umol/l) and ALT values showed no significant difference. Neutrophils increased as compared to the base line value, lymphocytes showed significant decrease while monocytes and eosinophils did not differ significantly.

Ketamine-medetomidine anaesthesia in dogs produced transient decrease in PCV, Hb, RBC and lymphocytes and significant increase in WBC, neutrophils and CRE. There was no significant effect on BUN and ALT. The dogs recovered uneventfully from anaesthesia.

Key words: Haematology, serum chemistry, ketamine, medetomidine, anaesthesia