Evaluation of Injectable Anaesthetic Drugs during Spaying in Rabbits

Abstract

Introduction: Spaying female rabbits may be necessary to control certain behaviors and prevent pregnancy. Since gaseous anesthesia is unavailable under field conditions, injectable anesthesia is required. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of routine injectable intramuscular anesthetics, including ketamine and xylazine, during the spaying procedure in rabbits.
Materials and methods: Five female short-haired rabbits, aged 20-24 months and weighing 1.5-1.7 kilograms, were presented to the Sahidul Alam Quadari teaching veterinary hospital in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate were measured using a thermometer and a stethoscope. The spaying procedure was conducted using aseptic techniques, administering xylazine and ketamine in a single syringe of anesthesia at dosage rates of 5 mg/kg intramuscularly (IM) and 30 mg/kg IM, respectively, for the spaying procedure.
Results: All vital parameters were within normal ranges. Injectable anesthetic xylazine at 5 mg/kg of body weight and ketamine at 30 mg/kg of body weight, administered IM, provided effective anesthesia during rabbit spaying without any complications on heart rate and respiration rate, as well as any complications during the surgery procedure. These doses were found to be optimal for field conditions.
Conclusion: The present study indicated that successful rabbit spaying can be achieved with IM anesthesia using the recommended doses of ketamine (30 mg/kg) and xylazine (5 mg/kg).