This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of intramuscular (IM) administration of xylazine-nalbuphine-ketamine compared to xylazine-ketamine combination in cats subjected to median Celiotomy. Six clinically healthy adult castrated male cats (aged between 1-2 years and body weight about 1.8 to 2.6 kg) were randomly allocated into two groups; anesthesia was IM induced with xylazine-ketamine-nalbuphine (XKN group; n = 3), and xylazine-ketamine alone (XK group; n = 3). Following induction, cats underwent ventral median Celiotomy. Basic physiological parameters, analgesic and sedative scores were recorded at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min postoperatively (PO). Post-operative pain-related behaviors were also assessed. The XKN showed shorter times to lateral and sternal recumbency and longer times to first head lift and standing position than XK group (P ≤ .0.05). Sedation score revealed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference between both groups at 20, 30, 60 and 120 min PO. Cats in the XKN group exhibited lower post-operative pain-related behaviors than those in the XK. Nalbuphine improves sedation and postoperative analgesia of xylazine-ketamine combination in cats.
Key words: Anesthesia, Behavior, Cats, Nalbuphine, Xylazine-Ketamine
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