Effect of Electroacupuncture Analgesia on Changes of Vital Signs and Blood Chemical Values in Cats
College of Veterinary Medicine and Division of Animal Science & Resources, Research Center for Transgenic Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
Introduction: Cats have difficulty in restraining and anesthetizing effectively unlike other animals. The present study was performed to investigate the anesthetic or analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (5V, 20-30Hz, 60min) and tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil, 10mg/kg, IM) in cats. Therefore, we examined blood chemistry (ALP, AST, ALT, glucose and total protein) and change of vital signs (rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate) according to the lapse of time.
Materials and Methods: Twelve cats were assigned at randomly to the control group Zoletil(tiletamine-zolazepam, TZ) and treatment group (electroacupuncture, EA). All cats were examined pre and 5, 25, 65, 105 minutes after administration of TZ or operation of EA.
Results: As a results, RT, HR, RR, ALP, AST, ALT and TP revealed significant difference between TZ and EA groups (p<0.05). Sternal recumbency time was 2 and 10 minutes in TZ and EA group, respectively. Lateral recumbency time was 4 and 18 minutes in TZ and EA group, respectively. When cats were recovered from the procedure, mean sternal recumbency time was 3.17±0.56 and 18.83±1.90 minutes in TZ and EA group, respectively. And mean standing position time was 202.00±15.65 and 73.00±6.07 minutes in TZ and EA group, respectively.
Conclusion: It was considered that EA group revealed very faster recovery than TZ group. So, EA may be used effectively in shock, debilitated cats, as compared to TZ.
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