Anesthetic Potency of Ketamine in Caspian Terrapin, Freshwater Soft Shell Tortoise and Rat Snake Collected from Bahar Al Najaf District, Al-Najaf Province

Abstract

The study was carried out during April 2012. Twelve Caspian terrapins,twelve freshwater soft-shell turtles and 6 rat snakes were collected from Baher Al-Najaf by professional reptiles collectors from Al-Rafidin association for hunting and environment protection, the present study include 3 separated experiments. The terrapins placed in 6 glass aquariums (couple per aquariums) the maintenance conditions controlled after adaptation for one week, all terrapins distributed equally into 3 groups. The animals of group 1, 2 and 3 were injected intramuscularly with 40,60 and 80 mg ketamine .The anesthetic levels were assessed. Freshwater soft-shell turtles experiment, this experiment was same to previous experiment. The rat snakes placed in 2 plastic containers distributed into 2 groups, the maintenance conditions .The snake of 1.2-and3 group were injected with 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg intramuscularly. The anesthetic levels were assessed. We note in Table 1 that when ketamine was injected at a dose of 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg of body weight, the minimum onset time for doses was (15,7,5), while the most time was (17, 10, 5) respectively. While we noticed the minimum a loss of the right reflex, deep anesthesia, recovery right reflex and completed recovery was (21,12,8), (47,58,76), (87,120,140) and (18,24,64). We note in Table 3 that when ketamine was injected at a dose of 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg of body weight, the minimum onset time for doses was (4,4,3), while the most time was (12, 5, 5) respectively. While we noticed the minimum a loss of the right reflex, deep anesthesia, recovery right reflex and completed recovery was (8,4,5), (50,40,74),(290,260,290) and (62,70,70) .Therefore, the best dose is 80 mg/kg for Caspian terrapin, while for freshwater soft shell tortoise it is 80 mg/kg. As for rat snake, the ketamine dose of 80 mg/kg of body weight was the best according to the study.