Effects of Lignocaine-Diazepam Combination in Lumbo-Sacral Epidural Anaesthetized Dogs Undergoing Caudectomy

General anaesthesia is known to be associated with the risk of cardiopulmonary depression, therefore the use of a safer means of anaesthesia as an alternative has to be explored. Epidural anaesthesia technique is known for its simplicity, safety and effectiveness and is one of the most frequently used regional anesthetic techniques described for surgical procedures caudal to the umbilicus in small animal practice. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lumbo-sacral epidural injection of a mixture of 7.5 mg/kg of 2% lignocaine solution and 0.2 mg/kg 0.5% diazepam solution in 10 apparently healthy Nigerian local dogs undergoing caudectomy. Onset of neural blocked recorded was 6.5 ± 1.35 min (mean ± SD), duration of analgesia was 54.4 ± 5.38 min (mean ± SD) and duration of recumbency was 115.1 ± 36.1min (mean ± SD). Changes observed in the Pulse rate (PR), Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), Respiratory rate (RR) and Rectal temperature (RT) were recorded at 10 min intervals throughout the duration of the procedure. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the mean physiological parameters observed as compared to the baseline values. Blood samples were also taken at 15 min interval throughout the duration of the procedure to determine the effects of the epidurally administered lignocaine-diazepam combination on haematological and serum biochemical indices. No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in the mean haematological (PCV, RBC, WBC, Hb and CBC) and serum biochemical indices (ALT, ALP, Creatinine and BUN). It was concluded that epidurally administered lignocaine-diazepam mixture at 7.5 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg respectively had a fast onset of neural blockade, adequate and long duration of analgesia without profound effects on haemodynamic and cardiopulmonary system.