This study aimed to evaluate intramuscularly administered ketamine,
intravenously administered ketamine and intravenously administered propofol in
diazepam premedicated goats. Nine native female goats divided into three groups
(each of 3 goats) were premedicated with diazepam 1 mg/kg intramuscularly. Goats
of group I were treated with ketamine (8 mg/kg) intravenously, while those of group < br />II treated with ketamine (10 mg/kg) intramuscularly, and group III injected with
propofol (5 mg/kg) intravenously. The mean anesthetic onset, anesthetic duration,
and total recovery period were calculated. The mean heart rate (HR), respiratory
rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT) and biochemical parameters also were recorded.
Satisfactory anesthesia and immobilization (smooth induction, and smooth
recovery) needed for surgical interventions of short duration were achieved in all
groups. The induction was good and smooth in groups I and III. The quality of
recovery was good in groups III and I and recovery is longer in group II. In
conclusion, this study indicates that the 3 regimens are associated with acceptable
anesthetic characteristics; Propofol IV is superior to ketamine because it provides
uneventful onset and recovery which are more rapid than ketamine IV or ketamine
IM, so reduces anaesthetic risk while administration of ketamine intravenously is
superior to its administration intramuscularly.