1. Evaluation of ketamine-xylazine in Syrian hamsters.
- Author
-
Payton AJ, Forsythe DB, Dixon D, Myers PH, Clark JA, and Snipe JR
- Subjects
- Anesthesia methods, Animals, Cricetinae, Drug Combinations, Evaluation Studies as Topic, Female, Injections, Intraperitoneal, Ketamine adverse effects, Male, Muscle Relaxation drug effects, Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms, Xylazine adverse effects, Anesthesia veterinary, Ketamine administration & dosage, Mesocricetus, Xylazine administration & dosage
- Abstract
Few parenteral anesthetics are safe and effective in the Syrian hamster. This study evaluated the anesthetic efficacy and potential for tissue damage of ketamine-xylazine (KX). Two dosage levels were administered intraperitoneally. Ketamine at 50 mg/kg combined with 10 mg/kg xylazine did not produce a consistent, reliable level of immobilization or anesthesia. Ketamine at 150 mg/kg combined with 10 mg/kg xylazine administered IP produced an adequate level of anesthesia without tissue damage for most procedures, but supplementation with lidocaine was necessary for peritoneal incision. Careful positioning of male hamsters for IP injection is imperative to prevent inadvertent injection into the testes with subsequent tissue damage.
- Published
- 1993