Vol. 9, Issue 12, Part H (2025)

The present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the clinico-physiological effects of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol as preanaesthetic agents prior to intravenous tiletamine-zolazepam anaesthesia in buffalo calves. Eighteen healthy non-descript buffalo calves of either sex, weighing 80-100 kg, were randomly divided into three groups (A, B, and C) of six animals each. All animals were dewormed with fenbendazole @ 5 mg/kg body weight orally prior to experimental procedures and were subjected to fasting for 24 hours and water withholding for 12 hours. Glycopyrrolate @ 0.01 mg/kg body weight I/M was administered 10 minutes before treatments in all groups. Animals in Groups B and C received dexmedetomidine @ 5 µg/kg body weight I/V and butorphanol @ 0.075 mg/kg body weight I/V, respectively, followed 10 minutes later by tiletamine-zolazepam @ 2.5 mg/kg body weight I/V in all groups. Clinical and physiological parameters were evaluated at predetermined intervals. Dexmedetomidine premedication produced superior sedation, profound muscle relaxation, and smoother anaesthetic quality compared to butorphanol. Both agents altered physiological parameters, but changes remained within clinically acceptable limits. The study concluded that dexmedetomidine is a more effective preanaesthetic to tiletamine-zolazepam for buffalo calves.