Evaluation of ketamine-xylazine in Syrian hamsters.
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.
Payton
A J
AJ
Comparative Medicine Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Forsythe
D B
DB
Dixon
D
D
Myers
P H
PH
Clark
J A
JA
Snipe
J R
JR
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D004338:Drug Combinations; D014991:Xylazine; D007649:Ketamine