Caudal epidural analgesia using lidocaine alone or in combination with ketamine in dromedary camels (<i>Camelus dromedarius</i>)

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the analgesic effect of lidocaine and a combination of lidocaine and ketamine following epidural administration in dromedary camels. Ten 12-18-month-old camels were randomly divided into two equal groups. In group L, the animals received 2% lidocaine (0.22 mg/kg) and in group LK the animals received a mixture of 10% ketamine (1 mg/kg) and 2% lidocaine (0.22 mg/kg) administered into the first intercoccygeal (Co1-Co2) epidural space while standing. Onset time and duration of caudal analgesia, sedation level and ataxia were recorded after drug administration. Data were analysed by U Mann-Whitney tests and significance was taken as p &lt; 0.05. The results showed that epidural lidocaine and co-administration of lidocaine and ketamine produced complete analgesia in the tail, anus and perineum. Epidural administration of the lidocaine-ketamine mixture resulted in mild to moderate sedation, whilst the animals that received epidural lidocaine alone were alert and nervous during the study. Ataxia was observed in all test subjects and was slightly more severe in camels that received the lidocaine-ketamine mixture. It was concluded that epidural administration of lidocaine plus ketamine resulted in longer caudal analgesia in standing conscious dromedary camels compared with the effect of administering lidocaine alone.

Comparative efficiency of lidocaine or lidocaine-ketamine combination for epidural analgesia in camels

“…Administration of lidocaine with ketamine produced longer duration of analgesia in dogs and cats than lidocine alone (De Rossi et al, 2009 andDe Rossi et al, 2011). Azari et al (2014) reported that, no significant differences in onset and intensity of analgesia in camels between lidocaine and lidocaine /ketamine combination. However Moulvi et al (2011) reported that, combination of ketamine with lignocaine resulted in more rapid and intense analgesia than lignocaine alone in calves.…”

“…Sedation onset and duration were also recorded. It was graded on 1 to 4 scores for each dose according to Azari et al (2014). (Table, 1).…”

“…They are also used for transportation (Al-Ani 2004;Tegegne 1991 andAzari et al, (2014). Ruminants are generally not considered good subjects for general anaesthesia, mainly because of hazards of regurgitation and inhalation of ruminal contents or saliva into the lungs if the airway is left unprotected.…”

“…Epidural administration of ketamine alone or in combination with lidocaine or other sedative agents has been reported to produce perineal analgesia in a number of ruminant species, for example cattle (DeRossi et al 2010a), water buffaloes (Singh et al 2006) and goats (Kinjavdekar et al 2007). Epidural administration of lidocaine or lignocaine combined with ketamine resulted in more intense and long duration of analgesia in camels (Azari et al, 2014;calves (Moulvi et al, 2011) and in dogs and cats (De Rossi et al, 2009;DeRossi et al, 2011). The currnt study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of lidocaine and lidocaine/ ketamine combination for epidural analgesia in camels based on clinicophysiological, sedative and analgesic effects.…”

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“…Biochemical Analysis: Glucose Estimation: Fasting blood glucose level was measured on 4 th day of treatment by PCPA and STZ in animals by using glucometer from the ventral side of the tail, 1cm away from the cloacae. 2 % lidocain was used for every pricking to reduce the pain 18 .…”