Effect of xylazine-ketamine on arterial blood pressure, arterial blood pH, blood gases, rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates in goats

The effects of xylazine-ketamine administration on arterial blood pressure, arterial blood pH, blood gases, rectal temperature, and heart and respiratory rates were recorded in 5 healthy female goats weighing 17-29 kg. Xylazine (0.2 mg/kg, i.m.) was administered 15 min prior to ketamine (10 mg/kg, i.v.). All baseline measurements were taken before the xylazine administration and were repeated at 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min intervals after induction of anaesthesia with ketamine. It was found that heart rate decreased at 15 to 60 min and rectal temperature decreased significantly at 30 to 60 min but respiratory rate did not change significantly. Mean arterial blood pressure declined significantly at 15 to 60 min after anaesthesia. PaO2 did not change significantly but PaCO2 values increased significantly at 5, 15, and 60 min. Values of pH decreased significantly at 5 and 15 min. According to this study, xylazine-ketamine combination is responsible for declined arterial blood pressure, bradycardia, increased PaCO2, decreased pH and hypothermia in anaesthetized goats.