Anaesthetic and Cardiopulmonary Effects of Dexamedetomidine, Buprenorphine, Dexmedetomidine – Buprenorphine on Alfaxalone in Adult Rabbits – A comparative Study

ALFAXALONE is a neuroactive steroid used as a general anaesthetic in several species including dogs, cats, ferrets and rabbits. This study evaluates the anaesthetic, analgesic, sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of Alfaxalone (alfaxan®) constant rate of infusion in Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor®) and buprenorphine premedicated rabbits. A blinded, randomized crossover study with a two - week washout period was carried out on six adult mixed breed rabbits with an average weight of 2.0 ± 0.5kg. Each rabbit received a dose of Dexdomitor® (0.3 mgkg-1), buprenorphine (0.1 mgkg-1) or Dexdomitor® and buprenorphine as premedicants intramuscularly (IM), induced with a loading dose of 4mgkg-1 and maintained with constant rate infusion of alfaxan at 9 mgkghr-1 for an hour. Blood glucose levels were measured prior to and after treatments. Anaesthestic indices (duration and quality of anaesthesia, analgesia and the quality of sedation) were recorded. Cardiorespiratory variables (heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse rate, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation) and rectal temperature were measured at 0, thereafter 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after treatment. Data obtained were expressed as Mean ± SEM, and subjected to ANOVA. Anaesthetic indices and blood glucose levels were analyzed with student’s t- test. P≤0.05 was considered significant. There were no significant differences between the groups in the pulse rate but a level of significance within the groups over time in some cardiopulmonary parameters. Dexdomitor® improved the anaesthetic and analgesic potentials of alfaxalone and produced more stable cardiopulmonary effects compared to the buprenorphine- alfaxan® and Dexdomitor®- buprenorphine-alfaxan® combinations.