MVSc

The present study was undertaken to assess the
efficacy of (i) ketamine hydrochloride, (ii) thiopentone
sodium, and (iii) ketamine hydrochloride followed by
thiopentone sodium, for anaesthetising domestic chicken and
ducks. Th~rty apparently healthy White Leghorn cocks,
aged 18 - 20 weeks and weighing 1.120 - 1.920 kg (Group I)
and thirty apparently heal thy White Pekin .dz-ake s , aged
20 - 22 weeks and weighing 1.700 - 2.100 kg (Group II)
were used. Group I and II were further divided into three
sub-groups, viz.,A, Band C consisting of ten birds each.
Ketamine hydrochloride at the rate of 100 mg per kg
bodyweight was administered in sub-group A, thiopentone
sodium (2.5 per cent solution) at the rate of 15 mg per kg
in sub-group B, and ketamine hydrochloride at the rate of
50 mg per kg followed by thiopentone sodium (2.5 per cent
solution) at the rate of 7.5 mg per kg in sub-group C, in
both the trials. The drugs were administered intraperi-
toneally.
During the onset of anaesthesia, when ketamine
hydrochloride was administered, loss of balance,
unsteadiness of head, cyanosis of comb and wattles,

defaecation and vocalisation were noticed in chicken, but
in ducks defaecation was not present. Ruffled feathers,
dropping of wings, fluttering and wagging of tail were
noticed as additional symptoms in ducks. When thiopentone
sodium was administered, loss of balance, unsteadiness of
head, cyanosis of comb and wattles, ruffled feathers and
dropping of' wings were noticed in chicken, but in ducks
vocalisation and fluttering were noticed in addition.
When ketamine hydrochloride followed by thiopentone sodium
was administered, loss of balance, unsteadiness of head,
cyanosis of comb and wattles, dropping of neck and wings,
and closing of eyelids were noticed in chicken and ducks.
In ducks the onset was very quick. All the birds assumed
sternal recumbency followed by lateral recumbency after
the onset of anaesthesia.


2



As the effect of anaesthesia deepened, pedal reflexes
were abolished in both the groups. However, other
reflexes such as corneal, pupillary, palpebral and
reflexes of the third eyelid, comb and wattles were
persisting in chicken and ducks. During ketamine
hydrochloride anaesthesia eyes were kept open, and when
thiopentone sodium or ketamine hydrochloride followed by
thiopentone sodium were administered, eyes were kept

closed. In ducks,
abolished


when


the reflexes of the third eyelid were
ketamine hydrochloride followed by


3



thiopentone sodium was administered.
The induction was smooth and uneventful in chicken
and ducks. The time for induction was 7.30+0.53 min.,.
9.30+0.38 min. and 8.00+0.58 min. in sub-groups A, Band C
respectively in chicken, and 9.20±.0.58 min., 10.20+0.87
min. and 4.60+0.70 min. in sub-groups A, Band C
respecti vely in ducks. The time for induction was the
least in chicken when ketamine hydrochloride was used, and
ln ducks when ketamine hydrochloride followed by
thiopentone sodium was used.
The duration of anaesthesia was 63.40+2.16 min.,
31.40+1.82 min. and 40.20+3.99 min. in sub-groups A, Band
C respectively in chicken, and 35.90±2.43 min., 18.90+0.99
min. and 20.20+0.89 min. in sub-groups A, Band C
respectively in .du ck s , The duration of anaesthesia was
maximum when ketamine hydrochloride was administered and
minimum when thiopentone sodium was administered in both
the groups.

4

The duration of recovery was 135.50+9.24 min. in
sub-group A, 149.60+8.32 mln. in sub~group B and
131.20+5.10 min. in . sub-group C, in chicken, and
84.50+7.31 min. in sub-group A, . 64.40+8.33 min. in
sub-group Band 113.10+6.15 min. in sub-group C, in ducks.
The duration of recovery was the least when ketamine
hydrochloride followed by thiopentone sodium was used in
chicken, and when thiopentone sodium was used in ducks.
The recovery from anaesthesia was smooth and uneventful in



both the groups.


Vigorous shaking of the head was seen



when ketamine hydrochloride was administered in ducks.
There was reduction in cloacal temperature during



anaesthesia.


Respiration rate showed an initial rise



followed by gradual reduction.
The total erythrocyte count was decreased during



anaesthesia.


The total leukocyte count was decreased in



sub-groups A and B, and increased in sub-group C, in
chicken. There was an increase in total leukocyte count
in ducks. Lymphocyte count was decreased, but heterophil
count and eosinophil count were increased.
There was no response to pain on incising and
suturing the skin, muscles and peritoneum except for


slight movement while incising the skin during ketamine
hydrochloride anaesthesia.
Focal congestion of liver and kidney were noticed on



the 5th day.


Mild degree of inflammatory reaction on the



parietal peritoneum was noticed at the point of entry of
the needle wherein thiopentone sodium was administered.
From the results of present study, it could be found



that


intraperitoneal


administration


of


ketamine



hydrochloride,


thiopentone


sodium,


and


ketamine



hydrochloride followed by thiopentone sodium resulted in
satisfactory surgical plane of anaesthesia in chicken and
ducks.
For chicken, ketamine hydrochloride is preferred
because of the comparatively least time for induction,



prolonged duration of anaesthesia and recovery.


Post



anaesthetic complications were not found. In ducks the



duration


of


anaesthesia


was


more,


when


ketamine



hydrochloride was administered, but vigorous shaking of
the head was seen during the period ofr~v.ay. Hence, for
ducks, ketamine hydrochloride followed by thiopentone
sodium is preferred because of the comparatively least



time


for


induction


and


satisfactory


duration


of



anaesthesia and recovery.