Comparison of sedative and analgesic effects of xylazine, detomidine, and medetomidine in sheep.

ABSTRACTThe present study was carried out to compare the sedative and analgesic effects after intravenous administration of xylazine (0.2 mg/Kg), detomidine (40 g/Kg) and medetomidine (6 g/Kg) in sheep. The onset of sedation occurred within 60 seconds, 116.25  8.85 seconds and 71.25  5.50 seconds which lasted for 67.13  2.83 minutes, 64.63  1.30 and 52.88  1.74 minutes with xylazine, detomidine and medetomidine respectively. The duration of sedation was significantly higher (P < 0.05) with xylazine as compared to detomidine and medetomidine. Xylazine produced medium to deep degree of sedation whereas detomidine and medetomidine produced light to medium degree of sedation. Skin analgesia and recumbence were produced with xylazine while no analgesia was achieved after administration of detomidine and medetomidine. Some common side effects like salivation, frequent urination, defaecation, staggering, head drooping, wobbling, snoring and bellowing were observed after administration of xylazine, detomidine or medetomidine. It is concluded that all these alpha2 adrenergic agonists studied are safe to be used in sheep. At doses studied both the detomidine and medetomidine have lesser sedative and analgesic effects in sheep.