The Evaluation of Arterial Blood Pressure in Anesthetized Dogs with Xylazine and Ketamine

Objective: It was aimed to investigate the effects of ketamine combination administered with xylazine used for general anesthesia in dogs on arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. Materials and Methods: In the study, a total of 20 dogs, 14 females and 6 males, from various breeds and ages 1 to 5, which undergone elective ovariohysterectomy or castration according to body weights. 1 mg/kg xylazine (xylazine hydrochloride, 23.3mg/ml, Xylazinbio 2% Bioveta®, Czechia) and 10 mg/kg ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride, 100 mg/ml, Ketasol 10% Richter® Pharma Ag, Austria) combination within a single injection with 21G needle were applied intramuscularly. The food and water access were ceased 12 hours before drug administration. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse measurements, and body temperatures were measured 3 times before and 5 times during anesthesia (at the 15th, 30th, 45th, 60th and 120th minutes of anesthesia) by using the AM6100 veterinary bedside monitor. Muff was placed to cover 1/3 of the proximal leg and for the artery to be recognizable by the microprocessor. Pulse rates were measured with electrodes connected to the device. Body temperature was measured by a rectal thermometer which was a part of the device. Measurements were taken before anesthesia was considered as control measurements. Results: In systolic blood pressure, the recordings at 0, 15th, 30th mins have been found as statistically significant in relation to 45th, 60th, and 120th (p<0.05). In diastolic blood pressure, there were no significant differences recorded. The change between the preintervention and post-application has been found significant (p<0.001). Body temperature has shown a meaningful change in comparison to the starting point after the readings (p<0.001). Conclusion: Eventually, decreases in blood pressure, heartbeat, and body temperature were observed for the dogs that have been anesthetized with the combination of xylazine-ketamine.