Year: 2026 | Month: June | Volume: 13 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 168-180
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260617
Comparative Study of Effects of Atipamezole at Different Doses in the Recovery of Rabbits Anesthetized with Xylazine-Ketamine
Md. Mostafizur Rahman Fahim1, Krishna Chandra Roy1, Md. Ishaq Hasib1, Md. Masud Rana1, Nusrat Zahan Mim1, Sumaiya Jahan Mim1, Animesh Chandra Roy1
1Department of Surgery & Theriogenology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
Corresponding Author: Animesh Chandra Roy
ABSTRACT
General anesthesia, used for clinical and experimental purposes, can cause hazards like long recovery times with high doses of sedatives and anesthetics. Reversal agents help mitigate this. This study evaluated atipamezole's effectiveness at different doses in rabbits anesthetized with xylazine-ketamine. Twenty male rabbits were divided into four groups (five rabbits in each group): a control group given xylazine and ketamine, and three treatment groups receiving atipamezole at 0.1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, and 1.0 mg/kg body weight. Anesthesia was induced intramuscularly with xylazine (5 mg/kg) and ketamine (35 mg/kg), with atipamezole administered 30 minutes later in the treatment groups. Parameters like respiration, heart rate, and temperature were recorded before and at 15, 30, and 45 minutes after drug administration. The depth of anesthesia was evaluated by observing the loss and return of the righting reflex and pedal withdrawal response. Recovery was assessed based on the time required to regain normal posture and activity. Anesthesia depth was evaluated by reflex loss and return; recovery was based on posture and activity. Results showed that atipamezole-treated rabbits recovered faster, especially at 0.5 mg/kg, with earlier return of reflexes and sternal recumbency, indicating rapid reversal. Clinical parameters normalized over time, and no adverse effects were seen. Concluding, 0.5 mg/kg atipamezole effectively reverses anesthesia, enabling quicker and more stable recovery without side effects.
Keywords: Atipamezole, Xylazine-ketamine, Anesthesia, Recovery, Rabbits.
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