Analgesic Effects Of Medetomidine On Healthy Cattle Calves

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to observe the analgesic effects produced by intravenous administration of three different doses of medetomidine (8µg/kg, 10µg/kg and 12µg/kg) in six healthy cattle calves in 2008. Various observations regarding onset of skin analgesia, duration of skin analgesia, onset of recumbency and duration of recumbency were recorded upto 120 minutes. Skin analgesia was produced in all animals with higher doses (10µg/kg and 12µg/kg) and in only two animals with lower doses (8µg/kg). Its onset was at 13.00±2.753, 6.25±0.75 and 2.33±0.21 minutes while mean total duration was 36.00±7.59, 55.66±5.53 and 93.00±0.57 minutes with 8µg/kg, 10µg/kg and 12µg/kg of medetomidine respectively which was significantly different (P<0.01) with all three doses. Medetomidine produced recumbency in all animals with higher doses (10µg/kg and 12µg/kg) and only in two animals with 8µg/kg body weight. Onset of recumbency were 6.25±1.31, 3.50±0.18 and 1.50±0.18 minutes while its duration was recorded as 48.50±10.23, 70.83±2.42 and 100.00±0.57 minutes after administration of 8µg/kg, 10µg/kg and 12µg/kg medetomidine respectively