A total of 30 Nigerian indigenous male dogs aged 1-2 years (1.65±0.47) and 11-15kg (13.4±1.27) body weight were used for the study. They were randomly allocated into 6 groups of 5 dogs each. Groups A1, B1 and C1 for intramuscular at 2mg/kg, 3mg/kg and 4mg/kg respectively and Groups A2, B2 and C2 for per-rectal at 2mg//kg, 3mg/kg and 4mg/kg. Haematological values of Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell (WBC) and Differential leucocyte counts (DLC) of Lymphocyte (LYM), Neutrophils (NEU), Monocyte (MON) and Eosinophils (EOS) were determined. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software Version 22.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago. Illinois). General Linear Model (GLM) using repeated measures Analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA), to compare the mean of different groups at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% level of significance was used. The PCV, Hb and Rbc values of the dogs castrated were within normal range when compared with specie corresponding values. The PCV value was lowest 38.6±1.9 at 2nd hour 2mg/kg for per rectum and highest of 44.1±1.9 at the 9th hour for per rectum at 4mg/kg dose. The Hb value was lowest at 12.9±0.5 at 1st hour for per rectum at 4mg/kg dose and the highest of 15.3±0.8 at 0 hour for intramuscular at 2mg/kg. The Rbc value was lowest at 4.0±1.5 at 4th hour, 2mg/kg for per rectum and the highest of 6.6±0.3 at 7th hour, 2mg/kg. The Total leucocyte count (TLC) values of WBC and DLC also recorded significant differences. There was significant difference (P<0.05) between routes but values remain within normal range of values. This finding shows that the use of Diclofenac as a short term analgesic caused no significant changes on the haematocrit values of dogs when used after castration. This finding has also indicated that short-term use of diclofenac through the per rectum route may be safe and had no deleterious effect on haematological value of Nigerian indigenous male dogs

This research was conducted to analyze the analgesic effects of bupivacaine, ketamine and bupivacaine–ketamine combination on bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy, and determine a suitable regional anaesthesia. Fifteen (15) apparently healthy bitches, aged 8-12 months and weighing 10 – 15kg were procured within and around Zaria, Kaduna State for this experiment. The animals were grouped into three (3), A, B and C, screened and allowed to acclimatize to the new environment. Premedication was instituted with 0.02 mg/kg atropine sulphate and 1mg/kg Xylazine. Group A was administered an epidural injection of 0.5 % bupivacaine hydrochloride at 1 mg/kg, Group B was administered an epidural injection of 50 mg/ml ketamine hydrochloride at 2 mg/kg and Group C was administered an epidural injection of bupivacaine and ketamine combination at 0.5mg/kg and 1 mg/kg respectively. Analgesic indices determined were time to sphincter relaxation, the onset of action, duration of analgesia and duration of muscle relaxation. A standard ovariohysterectomy procedure was carried out at the onset of analgesia on each experimental animal, lasting an average of 45 minutes. Bitches in the bupivacaine group took a longer time (73 ± 18.0 secs) to sphincter relaxation which was significantly different from the other groups. Ketamine took the shortest amount of time (15 ± 3.0 secs) which was almost immediate. The onset of analgesia was the shortest (3 ± 1.0 mins) in group B with ketamine only. The combination of ketamine and bupivacaine produced a longer duration (121 ± 7.0 mins) of analgesia and significant muscle relaxation (110 ± 20.0 mins). The combination of bupivacaine and ketamine produced superior analgesic effects than those of bupivacaine or ketamine alone used for epidural injection, and sufficient for painful surgeries such as ovariohysterectomy in dogs.

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The effects of combination of medetomidine and thiopentone intravenous (IV) anaesthesia on haematological and some serum biochemical parameters in donkeys was investigated. A total of 5 donkeys, comprising of 3 females and 2 males with mean body weight (159 ± 16.63 kg) and age (3.45 ± 0.50 years) were used for the present study. Each donkey was given a recommended dose of medetomidine at 5µg /kg and 10 % thiopentone at 7mg/kg body weight IV. Preanaesthetic blood samples were collected and later at 15minutes interval during anaesthesia in EDTA bottles for haematological and biochemical analysis. The parameters evaluated were packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and differential leucocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes) as well as serum biochemical parameters of alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine (Crea). The medetomidine-Thiopentone combination produced no significant difference (P>0.05) in all the haematological and serum biochemical parameters measured.