Epidural analgesia is a common practice in the dog. Local anesthetics are usually administered, although other drugs such as alpha-2 agonists e.g. xylazine HC1 and dissociative general anesthetics e.g. ketamine 1-ICI may produce analgesia in the perineal and abdominal region in several species.This study was undertaken to determine the analgesic, sedative and cardiovascular effects of epidural ketamine HCI in 5 healthy dogs weighing 22-35 kg. In model animals lidocanie HCI 2 % with epinephrine 0.0036% (lml/4.5 kg b.w) and ketamine I—lCl 10% (15 mg/kg b.w) was separately adminstered epidurally in one week intervals. Volumes of ketamin HCI 10% were adjusted to dogs weight and correlated to lidocaine HC1 2 % volumes. Vital signs and some sensory and motor reflexes were recorded before and after epidural injection of drugs. Mean Heart rate values before (82.4 ± 9.63) and after (91.2 ± 7.56) administration of ketamine HCI 10% and mean time for induction of analgesia and also duration of analgesia in two treatment groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In ketamine HCI 10% treatment group, the mild CNS depression (sedation) and local anesthesia (analgesia) was observed. The results of this study indicated that epidurally administered ketamine HCI 10% in dog produces local spinal analgesia and CNS depression. It was also shown that ketamine HCI has marked cardiovascular stimulation effects.
)