title: Evaluation of anaesthetic regimens in guineapigs.
abstract: To establish reliable methods of chemical restraint and anaesthesia for mildly painful procedures in guineapigs, we compared the effects of the following anaesthetics and combinations of anaesthetics: tiletamine-zolazepam (two dosages), pentobarbital, methoxyflurane, ketamine-xylazine (three dosages), and ketamine-xylazine with methoxyflurane. Tiletamine-zolazepam induced a short period of chemical restraint but lacked analgesic effects at the doses tested. Although pentobarbital induced prolonged chemical restraint, the loss of responsiveness to painful stimuli was brief. Methoxyflurane alone induced transient anaesthesia and analgesia. Ketamine-xylazine combinations induced analgesia and chemical restraint of comparable durations, and some dosages were suitable for mildly painful procedures. The addition of methoxyflurane significantly potentiated the anaesthetic and analgesic properties of the high dosage ketamine-xylazine combination.
authors.affiliation: Community Practice Division, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, MS 39762-9825, USA.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Radde
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hinson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crenshaw
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Toth
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000502:physiology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007756:Laboratory Animal Science / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008733:Methoxyflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013992:Tiletamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015041:Zolazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014991:Xylazine; D013992:Tiletamine; D008733:Methoxyflurane; D007649:Ketamine; D015041:Zolazepam; D010424:Pentobarbital