MVSc

The study was conducted in twelve dogs of different breeds of either sex presented to the Veterinary College Hospitals at Mannuthy and Kokkalai, for various surgical procedures. Healthy animals presented for elective surgeries were included in Group I and those compromised animals for emergency surgery, were included in Group II.
To the animals of both the groups, glycopyrrolate at the rate of 0.01 mg per kg body weight, followed by xylazine at the rate of 1 mg/kg body weight, at 15 minutes interval, were administered intramuscularly for premedication. Fifteen minutes later, propofol 1% emulsion at the rate of 4 mg per kg body weight was administered by intravenous bolus injection for induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane at three per cent level in pure oxygen at the rate of 10 ml/kg bodyweight by Bain’s circuit system utilizing isoflurane vapourizer.
The common clinical signs exhibited by the animals following premedication with glycopyrrolate-xylazine were winking of the eye, licking, yawning, incoordination of movements and sitting on haunches followed by sternal recumbency with head down posture within 15 minutes. Among these two groups, five animals vomited and only one animal assumed the position of lateral recumbency. Salivation was scanty in all the animals.
Time for induction of anaesthesia was 1.11 ± 0.25 and 0.83 ± 0.15 minutes following intravenous bolus injection of propofol in Group I and II respectively. Induction of anesthesia was smooth in all the animals and permitted easy endotracheal intubation. Apnoea persisting for a period of about one minute was noticed in a few animals.

The duration of anaesthesia was 29.66 ± 6.05 and 35.85 ± 16.86 in Group I and II respectively.The depth of anaesthesia and the degree of muscle relaxation were satisfactory in all the animals. With this anaesthetic regimen the surgeries performed in Group I were oophorectomy (4), operation for aural haematoma (1) and resection of mammary tumour (1), and in Group II were eventration due to disruption of surgical wound (1), caesarean section (2), ovario-hysterectomy for pyometra (2) and resection of lipoma in a debilitated dog(1) in Group II.
The recovery time was 27.50 ± 10.36 and 27.66 ± 11.79 in Group I and II respectively. All the animals had smooth and uneventful recovery from anaesthesia.
Decrease in respiratory rate and rectal temperature was noticed after premedication, during anaesthesia and recovery in the animals of both the groups. But the pulse rate was seen increased.
The colour of visible mucous membrane was pale roseate in all animals of both the groups throughout the period of study, except in one animal in which it was pale. There was increase in the capillary refill time in animals of both the groups. There was increase in the oxygen saturation level during anaesthesia and recovery in both the groups.
Electrocardiographic changes noticed were tachycardia, first-degree heart block, second-degree heart block, sinus arrest, S-T segment depression, peaked T wave and ventricular premature contractions. All these changes were spontaneously corrected during the recovery period
Increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate was noticed during anaesthesia and recovery, in animals of Group I, whereas there was decrease in Group II. Both haemoglobin concentration and volume of packed red cells were seen decreased.
There was significant decrease in total leukocyte count after premedication, during anaesthesia and recovery in both the groups.
The neutrophil and monocyte count were seen increased after premedication, during anaesthesia and recovery, but the lymphocyte count was decreased. The variations in eosinophil count were marginal.
There was increase in serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen, aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase levels, and potassium and chloride concentrations after premedication, during anaesthesia, at recovery and at 24 hours in animals of both the groups. The total protein content, creatinine level and sodium concentration were seen decreased. Post anaesthetic and postoperative complications were not observed in any of the animals.