Haematological Changes Following Intramuscular and Per- Rectal Diclofenac Sodium Administration in Dogs undergoing Orchiectomy

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