Dexmedetomidine, ketamine and isoflurane anaesthesia in Bonnet Macaques (Macaca radiata)

The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg body weight) and ketamine (10mg/kg body weight) as induction agent and isoflurane as an maintenance agent in 12 Bonnet Macaques (Macaca radiata radiata) which were referred for vasectomy. The induction combination induced ataxia in 285 ± 34.42 seconds and induction of anaesthesia in 11.83 ± 1.92 minutes. Anaesthesia was maintained for a duration of 107 ± 4.289 minutes for the surgical procedure and the monkeys recovered in 27.83 ± 3.50 minutes without any complication. The cardiopulmonary, haematologica, biochemical and plasma cortisol levels fluctuated within the normal limits. The study revealed that the combination of dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg body weight) and ketamine (10mg/kg body weight) intramuscularly could be used as chemical restraining and induction agents and isoflurane as a safe inhalant anaesthetic for maintenance.