Background: This study evaluated and compared cardiorespiratory and blood gas parameters, as well as sedation, analgesia and recovery of two protocols: ketamine (10 mg/kg) or dexmedetomidine (10 μg/kg), with midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.3 mg/kg), IM (KBM and DBM, respectively) in brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans).
Material and methods: Twelve brown howler monkeys were selected in two groups and evaluated for cardiorespiratory parameters and sedation, from 5-30 minutes after latency. Blood gas and arterial lactate were taken at 5 and 30 minutes. In the end, time and quality of recovery were evaluated.
Results: The HR in DBM group was significantly lower at all times. The sedation score was higher in DBM. Recovery in DBM was faster. All animals had moderate hypoxaemia.
Conclusion: Both protocols produce satisfactory anaesthesia and analgesia, but DBM provides deeper sedation with faster recovery. Oxygen supplementation is recommended in both due to hypoxaemia.
Keywords: anaesthesia; blood gas; dissociative drugs; interaction; new world primate; non-human primate; sedation; α2 agonists.
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