Effects of xylazine-ketamine-diazepam anesthesia on blood cell counts and plasma biochemical values in sheep and goats

To examine the effects of xylazine, ketamine, diazepam anesthesia on clinical pathology parameters in sheep and goats, seven adult, healthy, non-pregnant Awassi sheep weighing 40-60 kg and seven adult, healthy non-pregnant Damascus breed goats weighing 35 to 55 kg were used. Anesthesia was induced using 0.1 mg/kg xylazine, 5 mg/kg ketamine, and 0.25 mg/kg diazepam as a single intravenous injection. Blood cell counts and plasma biochemical analysis were performed before anesthesia (T0), 2 h after recovery, 24 h after recovery, and 5 days later. Hematological analysis indicated that there was a significant increase in neutrophil percentages (P≤0.05) in sheep and goats at 2 h and 24 h after recovery. There was a mild lymphopenia and a significant leukocytosis at 24 h after recovery in both species. Packed cell volume was significantly increased at 24 h and at 2 h and 24 h after recovery in sheep and goats, respectively, while total red blood cell count was significantly decreased at 24 h after recovery in sheep and goats. There were no significant changes in hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, and albumin concentrations. Glucose was significantly elevated at 2 h after recovery in goats only. Aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were not significantly changed at any sampling point. It is therefore concluded that a combination of xylazine, ketamine, and diazepam can be used to induce short term anesthesia in sheep and goats with minimum effects on clinical laboratory parameters. © 2009 Springer-Verlag London Limited.