DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2017.v04i09.006

Pages: 356-363

To determine the most reliable safe and satisfactory short term anaesthesia in donkeys; two combinations of anaesthetic agents were assessed. Ten donkeys were randomly divided into two groups (five animals for each). Group(I) was allotted for protocol( I ) ( Xylazine (X), Diazepam (D), Ketamine (K) and Propofol (P) ; Group (II) for protocol (II) (Xylazine (X), Diazepam (D) and Propofol (P). Donkeys in protocol (I) were anaesthetized with diazepam(D) (0.1mg/kg), ketamine (K) (2.2mg/kg) propofol(P) (2mg/kg), while those in protocol(II) was anaesthetized with diazepam (D) (0.1mg/kg), and propofol (P) (2mg/kg) intravenous respectively five minutes later of premedication with xylazine(X)(0.5mg/kg) in both groups. Respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR) and rectal temperature (RT) were measured before and 10 minutes intervals throughout the duration of anaesthesia. Induction, duration of anaesthesia, selected reflexes and recovery were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. Blood samples were collected from each animal before, one hour and 24 hours of anaesthesia to test the effect of both protocols on liver and kidney functions.It could be concluded that, addition of ketamine in protocol I provide a relative good anaesthetic effect in donkeys.