CHLORAL HYDRATE AS A PREANAESTHETIC, NARCOTIC AND ANAESTHETIC FOR DONKEYS

The present study was conducted on 24 donkeys to evaluate chloral hydrate as a preanaesthetic, narcotic and anaesthetic drug. The clinical results were discussed and the pathological effects on the parenchymatous organs and brain were also evaluated. Chloral hydrate in a dose rate of 6g/50kg body weight enabled to control donkeys in the recumbent position, but most reflexes were not affected in most animals. The drug in a dose rate of 9 and 12g/50kg body weight gave anaesthesia for a period of 60 to 90 minutes, but with the later dose the animals laid down for a long period (3 to 4 hours). The large doses have also severe hypothermic effect. Chloral hydrate in a dose rate of 15g/50kg body weight was lethal for donkeys. The histopathological results showed that the large doses of chloral hydrate may lead to reversible changes in the liver, haemocidrosis in the spleen and focal degenerative changes in the kidneys and heart.