Efeitos cardiorrespiratórios e comportamentais da cetamina isolada ou de sua associação ao ifenprodil administrados por via epidural em equinos

We assessed the behavioral and cardiorespiratory effects of epidural injection of ketamine alone or ketamine-ifenprodil association on horses. Six healthy male and female horses, weighing between 300 and 400 kg, were randomly divided into two groups: CetSAL (ketamine 1 mg/kg + 0.9% NaCl) and CetIFE (ketamine 1 mg/kg + ifenprodil 0.015 mg/kg + 0.9% NaCl), observing an interval of 15 days. The final volume was adjusted with 0.9% NaCl 3.4+ [kg x 0.013] mL, administered in 5 minutes. Epidural catheters had been previously implanted through the intercoccygeal space Co1- Co2. We assessed HR, f, SBP, DBP, MBP, RT, head height (HH), intestinal motility (IM), ataxia, sedation, palpebral ptosis (PP), perineal sweating (PS), anal (AR) and tail relaxation every 15 minutes up to M240, every 2 hours up to M720 and every 6 hours up to M1440. ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests were used for the physiological variables and chi-square and descriptive evaluation for the other parameters. The SBP, DBP and MBP were clinically higher in horses of the CetSAL group. The f was higher in M480 (16 ± 1) and M600 (16 ± 1) for horses of CetIFE, compared to 12 ± 1 and 11 ± 1, respectively, in horses of CetSAL. The HH, IM and ataxia were similar in both groups. All animals were calm during assessments, kept interested in the environment and in the food offered, while sedation, stereotyping, PP and PS did not occur. Partial AR was observed in 50% and 67% of animals in CetSAL and CetIFE, respectively. Total loss of tail tone was observed in 50% and 17% of the horses in CetIFE and CetSAL, respectively. Based on these results it was concluded that epidural administration of ketamine alone or associated with ifenprodil does not change the cardiorespiratory and behavioral parameters in horses.