Some clinical, haematological and biochemical effects of four tranquilizers in camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Six healthy camels were treated with the tranquilizers propionyl promazine (Combelen), xylazine (Rompun), acepromazine (Calmivet) or chlorpromazine (Largactil) at single intramuscular doses of 0.5, 0.25, 0.1, or 3 mg/kg, respectively; and the onset, duration and degree of sedation produced by each drug was assessed for six hours. The effect of the treatments on some haematological and biochemical parameters was also studied. The onset and duration of action of the tranquilizers were 10 min and 2.1 +/- 0.5 h for propionyl promazine, 4 min and 3.1 +/- 0.4 h for xylazine, 5 min and 2.3 +/- 0.5 h for acepromazine, 7 min and 2.5 +/- 0.4 h for chlorpromazine, respectively. It was observed that 5-10 min after the administration of the four drugs, camels showed slight irritability, dropping of the lower lips and scratching of the nostrils against objects. During the first hour after medication camels showed frequent urination, defaecation and lacrimation. Xylazine seemed to be superior to the other three drugs in producing sedation. No significant effect on the rectal temperature or the respiratory rates of treated camels was seen after the administration of the four drugs. There were consistent, but statistically insignificant decreases (about 10 p. 100) in the haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte counts of camels one hour after treatment with the tranquilizers. The four drugs, particularly xylazine and propionyl promazine produced significant hyperglycaemia, but did not alter significantly the plasma concentration of urea or activity of aspartate aminotransferase.