Background and Aim: Sedative drugs mostly cause dose-dependent depression of the central nervous system which results in hypnosis and anesthesia possibly; however, these agents are associated with some side effects ranging respiratory, digestive, immune system dysfunctions, tolerance, cognitive function deterioration, and physical dependence; hence, investigations of newer and safer agents are, therefore, imperative. The current study was aimed at investigating the sedative-hypnotic (S-H) effects of the methanol leaf extract of Ficus exasperata in mice. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical screening of the leaf extract was conducted, and S-H activity of the plant extract was evaluated. Twenty Swiss Albino mice were randomly divided into four groups of five mice each. The mice in Groups A and B were injected with the extract intraperitoneally (IP) at the dose rate of 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively, those in Group C were injected with xylazine at the dose rate of 10 mg/kg, while Group D mice received distilled water at the dose rate of 2 ml/kg. All the four experimental groups were injected with ketamine (IP) at the dose rate of 100 mg/kg after 30 min. Results: Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, reducing sugars, steroids and triterpenes, saponins, tannins, condensed tannins, and flavonoids, while anthraquinones, anthracene derivatives, and alkaloids were absent. Results from the S-H evaluation show no significant difference (p≥0.05) on the onset of sleep time between the four experimental groups; however, statistically significant difference (p≤0.05) was recorded in the sleep duration time between the groups treated with only ketamine and the other experimental groups pre-treated with either the extract or xylazine before ketamine administration. The group pre-treated with a high dose of the plant extract (200 mg/kg) and the treated with ketamine after 30 min exhibited longer sleeping duration time. The plant extract, xylazine and ketamine, sedated the mice for some period of time after arousal from sleep. Conclusion: Our finding suggests that methanol leaf extract of F. exasperata possesses S-H potential that may require further scientific investigations.

This study was carried out to compare the anaesthetic and cardiopulmonary effects of medetomidine-diazepam-ketamine (MDK) with medetomidine-ketamine (DK) induced anaesthesia in dogs.Ten (10) apparently healthy local dogs comprising of 5 females and 5 males with Mean ± SD body weight of 20.40±2.93kg randomly allocated into two groups A (n=5), B (n=5) were used for this study. Dogs in group A were premedicated with an intravenous injection of 0.005mg/kg medetomidine, followed by an intravenous injection of 0.25mg/kg diazepam and 4mg/kg ketamine combination 3-5 minutes later. Meanwhile group B were given an intravenous injection of medetomidine (0.005 mg/kg) and ketamine (5mg/kg) combination. Anaesthetic indices and degree of analgesia(assessed by positive response of a dog to haemostatic pressure and defined as gross purposeful movement of head and/limb withdrawal which indicates perception of pain) were recorded while cardiopulmonary parameters were measured before anaesthesia and at five (5) minutes interval throughout anaesthesia. There was 100% negative pain perception in dogs in the group administered with MDK while 70% negative pain perception was recorded in dogs in the group administered with MK. The MDK group showed longest duration of anaesthesia (32.00 ± 1.1 minutes) and shortest time to standing (2.40 ± 1.5 minutes) compared with the MKgroup (6.80 ± 2.7 minutes). Although, both groups did not show significant decrease (P>0.05) in heart and respiratory rates. The MK group showed more cardiopulmonary effects. It was concluded that protocol of MDK provided better and longer anaesthesia/analgesia compared with MKin dogs, with minimal effects on vital body parameters, for extended surgical interventions.

A total of 30 Nigerian indigenous male dogs aged 1-2 years (1.65±0.47) and 11-15kg (13.4±1.27) body weight were used for the study. They were randomly allocated into 6 groups of 5 dogs each. Groups A1, B1 and C1 for intramuscular at 2mg/kg, 3mg/kg and 4mg/kg respectively and Groups A2, B2 and C2 for per-rectal at 2mg//kg, 3mg/kg and 4mg/kg. Haematological values of Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell (WBC) and Differential leucocyte counts (DLC) of Lymphocyte (LYM), Neutrophils (NEU), Monocyte (MON) and Eosinophils (EOS) were determined. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software Version 22.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago. Illinois). General Linear Model (GLM) using repeated measures Analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA), to compare the mean of different groups at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% level of significance was used. The PCV, Hb and Rbc values of the dogs castrated were within normal range when compared with specie corresponding values. The PCV value was lowest 38.6±1.9 at 2nd hour 2mg/kg for per rectum and highest of 44.1±1.9 at the 9th hour for per rectum at 4mg/kg dose. The Hb value was lowest at 12.9±0.5 at 1st hour for per rectum at 4mg/kg dose and the highest of 15.3±0.8 at 0 hour for intramuscular at 2mg/kg. The Rbc value was lowest at 4.0±1.5 at 4th hour, 2mg/kg for per rectum and the highest of 6.6±0.3 at 7th hour, 2mg/kg. The Total leucocyte count (TLC) values of WBC and DLC also recorded significant differences. There was significant difference (P<0.05) between routes but values remain within normal range of values. This finding shows that the use of Diclofenac as a short term analgesic caused no significant changes on the haematocrit values of dogs when used after castration. This finding has also indicated that short-term use of diclofenac through the per rectum route may be safe and had no deleterious effect on haematological value of Nigerian indigenous male dogs

This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of combinations of medetomidine-diazepamketamine and medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia haematology and serum chemistry in dogs. Ten (10) apparently healthy local dogs comprising of five (5) females and five (5) males with Mean ± SD body weight of 20.4 ± 2.93 kg sought from Maiduguri and environs and randomly allocated into two groups A (n=5), B (n=5) were used to conduct the experiment for this study. Total Intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) was induced in all the dogs. Dogs in group A were premedicated with an intravenous injection of 0.005 mg/kg Medetomidine, followed by an intravenous injection of 0.25 mg/kg Diazepam and 4 mg/kg Ketamine combination 3 – 5 minutes later. Meanwhile group B dogs were given an intravenous injection of Medetomidine (0.005 mg/kg) and Ketamine (5 mg/kg) combination. Blood sample was collected for haematological analysis while serum was collected to assay Total protein (TP), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine (Cr) using standard laboratory protocols. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the measured haematological indices, ALT, BUN, Cr and TP in both groups A and B throughout the study. However, there was non-significant decrease in ALT, BUN, Cr and TP in both groups up to 30 minutes post administration of the drug combinations but return to almost baseline values at 60 minutes post anaesthesia. The results of this study showed that intravenous administration of Medetomidine-Diazepam-Ketamine and Medetomidine-Ketamine combinations have no significant effects on haematological indices and serum chemistry profile of dogs. Therefore, these anaesthetic combinations can be prescribed for clinical use and procedures in dogs.

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