Study on the Effects of Acepromazine in Combination with Ketamine and Ketamine Alone in Local Breed Dogs

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ketamine alone and with acepromazine combination on anesthetic parameters; on physiological and hematological parameters to choose a suitable general anesthetic combination for use in surgical procedures in local breed of dogs in Mekelle, Ethiopia. The experimental study was carried out on ten local breed of dogs and were randomly divided in to two groups with five dogs in each group. Data was collected for analyzing physiological effects of anesthetic combinations; anesthetic effects and hematological effects using physical recording and laboratory analysis. The results of this study showed duration of general anesthesia was (62.8 ± 2.28 min) and animal recovered (72.8 ±2.28 min) in acepromazine –ketamine combination whereas duration of general anesthesia was (30± 1.05 min) in ketamine alone. The result also showed that the physiological and hematological parameters remained significantly unchanged during the anesthesia in both groups. Therefore, relation duration of action, acepromazine and ketamine combination was a suitable choice for undertaking of surgical operations in dogs of local breed for longer duration of action i.e (62.8 ± 2.28 min). Further studies on several other anesthetic combinations i.e. (acepromazine + xylazine + ketamine and acepromazine + diazepam + ketamine) on local breed of dogs and several other anesthetic combinations may be conducted. Abbreviations: AK: AcepromazineKetamine; ANOVA: Analysis of Variance; CSA: Central Statistical Agency; DLC: Differential Leukocyte Counts; EDTA: Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic acid; GABAA: Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid Type A receptors; HbC: Hemoglobin Concentration; IM: Intramuscular; Kg: Kilo gram; Mg: milligram; PCV: Packed Cell Volume; SD: Standard Deviation; SPSS: Statistical Package for Social Sciences; TEC: Total Erythrocyte count; TLC: Total Leukocyte count Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research Volume 9Issue 5: 2018 Cite this article: Gebremedhin Yohannes, Guesh Negash, Hagazi Fantay. Study on the Effects of Acepromazine in Combination with Ketamine and Ketamine Alone in Local Breed Dogs. Biomed J Sci&Tech Res 9(5)-2018. BJSTR. MS.ID.001851. DOI:10.26717/ BJSTR.2018.09.001851. 2/7 it is commonly used in combination with xylazine, diazepam and acepromazine to minimize the adverse effects. Moreover, there are different breed of dogs which require proper anesthetic medicament combination. However, there are limited, or no experiments carried out to determine a specific anesthetic combination in relation to the local breed of dogs in the study area. Hence, determining the effects of the ketamine in combination with other sedative agents may help to come out with the safest combination for surgical procedures in local breed of dogs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the anesthetic, hematological and physiological effects of ketamine alone and ketamine-acepromazine combination for use in surgical procedures in local breed of dogs in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods Study Area The present study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. Mekelle is the capital of Tigray region located about 783 kilometers north of Addis Ababa with a total area of approximately 102,000 square kilo meters. Its geographic location is 13032`N latitude and 39033`E longitude with human population of about 215,546. It has an average altitude of 2200 meter above sea level with a mean minimum and maximum monthly temperature of 8.7 degree Celsius and 26.8 degree Celsius respectively. The annual average rainfall of Mekelle is 600 millimeters and more than 70 percent of it falls between the months July and August. The long dry season extends from October to May [10]. Study Population The present study was carried out on mature and apparently healthy local breed of dogs weighing between 10-15 kg and aged between 2-4 years. Dogs were declared healthy based on physiologically normal parameters i.e. rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and capillary refill time. Sample Size The present study was carried out on ten mature and apparently healthy local breed of dogs (six males and four females). Sampling Technique Ten dogs were randomly divided in to two groups, an experimental group with five dogs (three males and two females) in each group and one control group with five dogs (three males and two females) in each group. Experimental Design and Procedure Ten (10) local breed of dogs were purchased, of which five dogs were randomly assigned to an induction regimen of ketamine alone (control group) and the other five dogs were assigned to ketamineacepromazine combination (experimental group). The dogs were housed individually in a kennel, fed meat and bread. Prior to anesthesia, each dog was withheld of food and water for 12 and 6 hours respectively. These dogs were placed in a quiet kennel and left undisturbed. Heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature were recorded prior to premedication. Blood samples were taken prior to premedication. All dogs were premedicated with atropine sulphate at 0.04 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously for the reduction of salivary and bronchial secretions fifteen minutes before induction of anesthesia with ketamine alone and with acepromazine. Administration of drugs a) Group 1-control group (ketamine alone): First all dogs were premedicated with atropine sulphate at 0.04 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously. After fifteen minutes of premedication, a combination of acepromazine and ketamine were administered at two different doses of ketamine at 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg IM with one-week interval between trials. b) Group 2experimental group (ketamine – acepromazine combination): First all dogs were premedicated with atropine sulphate at 0.04 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously. After fifteen minutes of premedication, a combination of acepromazine and ketamine at two different doses acepromazine and ketamine at 5mg/kg and 0.01 mg/ kg respectively and again at 10 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg intramuscularly respectively with one-week interval between trials. Monitoring of Post Intervention After administration of the ketamine alone and with acepromazine dogs of all groups were kept under close observation. Induction period, duration of anesthesia and recovery period were recorded. Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate were recorded every 5 minutes interval after administration of the anesthetic combinations. Hematological and Physiological Parameters Three ml of blood sample were collected from cephalic vein of each experimental dog prior to administration of the premedication (atropine sulphate) and 30-45 minutes after administration of the anesthetic agents; because maximum effects occurred at 30-45 minutes. Immediately after collection, the blood samples were transferred in a sterile test tube containing Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic acid (EDTA) as anticoagulant for estimation of Packed Cell Volume, White blood cells, Hemoglobin concentration, red blood cells and differential leukocyte counts according to the procedures of [11]. Physiological parameters like heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were measured every five minutes after administration of the anesthetic combinations. Data Collection Data were collected on physiological effects (heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature), anesthetic effects (induction period, duration of anesthesia, recovery period,) and hematological effects (packed cell volume, red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin concentration and differential leukocyte counts. Data Analysis The recorded data was entered Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed to Mean±SD (Standard Deviation) using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 [12]. Paired t-test was used to compare physiological and hematological parameters taken before and during the administration of the drug combination for each group. One-Way Analysis of Variance Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research Volume 9Issue 5: 2018 Cite this article: Gebremedhin Yohannes, Guesh Negash, Hagazi Fantay. Study on the Effects of Acepromazine in Combination with Ketamine and Ketamine Alone in Local Breed Dogs. Biomed J Sci&Tech Res 9(5)-2018. BJSTR. MS.ID.001851. DOI: 10.26717/ BJSTR.2018.09.001851. 3/7 (ANOVA) at 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine the level of significant difference in mean values among three groups; to compare the means of induction time, duration of anesthesia and recovery time between the groups. Values of p≤0.05 were considered as statistically significant and Values of p>0.05 was considered as non-significant. Results Anesthetic Effects of Ketamine alone and KetamineAcepromazine Combination In this study, the duration of action ketamine alone at a respective dose of 5 mg/kg and 10mg/kg body weight given intramuscularly were 30± 1.05 minutes, 25 ± 1.05 minutes, respectively, whereas the recorded onset of action, duration of action and recovery time of the anesthetic combination of acepromazine – ketamine at 0.01 mg/kg and 5mg/kg body weight given intramuscular, respectively were 13 ± 2.12, 62.8 ± 2.28 and 72.8 ±2.28 minutes, respectively. The recorded onset of action, duration of action and recovery time of the anesthetic combination of acepromazine – ketamine at 0.05 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg body weight given IM, respectively were 11 ± 2.12, 78.6 ± 1.67 and 88.6 ± 1. 67 minutes, respectively. In this study, onset of action was shorter whereas duration of action and recovery time were longer in the anesthetic combination of acepromazine – ketamine at 0.05 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively when compared to the anesthetic combination of acepromazine – ketamine at 0.01 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, IM. So, in this study, the duration of anesthesia was longer in ketamine -acepromazine combination as compared with ketamine alone (Table 1). Table 1: Effects of ketamine alone (control group), acepromazine-ketamine combination (experimental group) on onset of action, duration and recovery time. Anesthetic agents Doses (mg/kg) Onset of action (min) Duration of action (min) Recovery time (min) Control group 5mg/kg 1.5 ± 0.5 30 ± 1.05 120 ± 7.25 10mg/kg 1 ± 0.4 25 ± 1.05 180 ± 7.25 Experimental group 0.01 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg 13 ± 2.12 62.8 ± 2.28 72.8 ±2.28 0.05 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg 11 ± 2.12 78.6 ± 1.67 88.6 ± 1. 67 Body Reflexes Activity


Introduction
Ketamine is combined with an alpha-2-agonist (e.g. xylazine), a benzodiazepine (e.g. diazepam) or a phenothiazine tranquillizer (e.g. acepromazine) to enhance muscle relaxation, analgesia, to prevent seizures/convulsions and prolong the duration of anesthetic effect. It is associated with a rapid onset, good to excellent sedation of one to two hours duration, excellent analgesia and smooth recovery. The analgesia and sedation are due to central nervous system depression and the muscle relaxation is due to the central inhibition of intraneural transmission [1]. Ketamine is poor in visceral analgesia. However, it can be used in combination with xylazine or diazepam to provide good visceral analgesia in case of abdominal surgery (including ovariohysterectomy) and thoracic surgery. Pain is an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience most commonly associated with potential tissue damage. The sensation of pain is a consequence of the activation of specialized receptors and neurological pathways after such pain stimuli [2,3].
Acepromazine possesses antiemetic, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic, hypotensive and hypothermic properties and its administration produces muscle relaxation and no analgesic effect [4]. It has prolonged duration of effect and is associated with hypotension secondary to marked peripheral vasodilatation and response variability (Hall et al. 2001). The administration of acepromazine in combination with ketamine has distinct advantages. Acepromazine reduces the dosage of ketamine needed for a given period of analgesia, and increases the degree and duration of muscle relaxation, and prevents reflex movements of the limbs. Acepromazine prolongs standing and full recovery times. It induces mild to moderate tranquilization, muscle relaxation and a decrease in spontaneous activity attributable principally to central dopaminergic antagonism. Acepromazine effectively prevents cardiac dysrhythmia and ventricular fi brillation in dogs during barbiturate and halothane anesthesia [5].
Studies on acute pain in clinical cases have most often evaluated the effects of surgical trauma on animals, while prevention and pain management are the key issues in anesthesia [1,4,6]. When pain is not appropriately managed, it is not only an animal welfare issue, but it can also have many detrimental effects which can impact the patient recovery [7]. A variety of physiological changes also occur in response to pain such as increases in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and body temperature [6,8,9]. Ketamine is rarely used alone because of its association with poor muscle relaxation, tachycardia and catalepsy or muscle rigidity. Therefore,

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it is commonly used in combination with xylazine, diazepam and acepromazine to minimize the adverse effects. Moreover, there are different breed of dogs which require proper anesthetic medicament combination. However, there are limited, or no experiments carried out to determine a specific anesthetic combination in relation to the local breed of dogs in the study area. Hence, determining the effects of the ketamine in combination with other sedative agents may help to come out with the safest combination for surgical procedures in local breed of dogs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the anesthetic, hematological and physiological effects of ketamine alone and ketamine-acepromazine combination for use in surgical procedures in local breed of dogs in Mekelle, Ethiopia.

Study Area
The present study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. Mekelle is the capital of Tigray region located about 783 kilometers north of Addis Ababa with a total area of approximately 102,000 square kilo meters. Its geographic location is 13032`N latitude and 39033`E longitude with human population of about 215,546. It has an average altitude of 2200 meter above sea level with a mean minimum and maximum monthly temperature of 8.7 degree Celsius and 26.8 degree Celsius respectively. The annual average rainfall of Mekelle is 600 millimeters and more than 70 percent of it falls between the months July and August. The long dry season extends from October to May [10].

Study Population
The present study was carried out on mature and apparently healthy local breed of dogs weighing between 10-15 kg and aged between 2-4 years. Dogs were declared healthy based on physiologically normal parameters i.e. rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and capillary refill time.

Sample Size
The present study was carried out on ten mature and apparently healthy local breed of dogs (six males and four females).

Sampling Technique
Ten dogs were randomly divided in to two groups, an experimental group with five dogs (three males and two females) in each group and one control group with five dogs (three males and two females) in each group.

Experimental Design and Procedure
Ten (10) local breed of dogs were purchased, of which five dogs were randomly assigned to an induction regimen of ketamine alone (control group) and the other five dogs were assigned to ketamineacepromazine combination (experimental group). The dogs were housed individually in a kennel, fed meat and bread. Prior to anesthesia, each dog was withheld of food and water for 12 and 6 hours respectively. These dogs were placed in a quiet kennel and left undisturbed. Heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature were recorded prior to premedication. Blood samples were taken prior to premedication. All dogs were premedicated with atropine sulphate at 0.04 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously for the reduction of salivary and bronchial secretions fifteen minutes before induction of anesthesia with ketamine alone and with acepromazine.

Administration of drugs a) Group 1-control group (ketamine alone):
First all dogs were premedicated with atropine sulphate at 0.04 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously. After fifteen minutes of premedication, a combination of acepromazine and ketamine were administered at two different doses of ketamine at 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg IM with one-week interval between trials. b) Group 2-experimental group (ketamineacepromazine combination): First all dogs were premedicated with atropine sulphate at 0.04 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously. After fifteen minutes of premedication, a combination of acepromazine and ketamine at two different doses acepromazine and ketamine at 5mg/kg and 0.01 mg/ kg respectively and again at 10 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg intramuscularly respectively with one-week interval between trials.

Monitoring of Post Intervention
After administration of the ketamine alone and with acepromazine dogs of all groups were kept under close observation. Induction period, duration of anesthesia and recovery period were recorded. Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate were recorded every 5 minutes interval after administration of the anesthetic combinations.

Hematological and Physiological Parameters
Three ml of blood sample were collected from cephalic vein of each experimental dog prior to administration of the premedication (atropine sulphate) and 30-45 minutes after administration of the anesthetic agents; because maximum effects occurred at 30-45 minutes. Immediately after collection, the blood samples were transferred in a sterile test tube containing Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic acid (EDTA) as anticoagulant for estimation of Packed Cell Volume, White blood cells, Hemoglobin concentration, red blood cells and differential leukocyte counts according to the procedures of [11]. Physiological parameters like heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were measured every five minutes after administration of the anesthetic combinations.

Data Collection
Data were collected on physiological effects (heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature), anesthetic effects (induction period, duration of anesthesia, recovery period,) and hematological effects (packed cell volume, red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin concentration and differential leukocyte counts.

Data Analysis
The recorded data was entered Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed to Mean±SD (Standard Deviation) using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 [12]. Paired t-test was used to compare physiological and hematological parameters taken before and during the administration of the drug combination for each group. One-Way Analysis of Variance

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(ANOVA) at 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine the level of significant difference in mean values among three groups; to compare the means of induction time, duration of anesthesia and recovery time between the groups. Values of p≤0.05 were considered as statistically significant and Values of p>0.05 was considered as non-significant.

Anesthetic Effects of Ketamine alone and Ketamine-Acepromazine Combination
In this study, the duration of action ketamine alone at a respective dose of 5 mg/kg and 10mg/kg body weight given intramuscularly were 30± 1.05 minutes, 25 ± 1.05 minutes, respectively, whereas the recorded onset of action, duration of action and recovery time of the anesthetic combination of acepromazine -ketamine at 0.01 mg/kg and 5mg/kg body weight given intramuscular, respectively were 13 ± 2.12, 62.8 ± 2.28 and 72.8 ±2.28 minutes, respectively. The recorded onset of action, duration of action and recovery time of the anesthetic combination of acepromazine -ketamine at 0.05 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg body weight given IM, respectively were 11 ± 2.12, 78.6 ± 1.67 and 88.6 ± 1. 67 minutes, respectively. In this study, onset of action was shorter whereas duration of action and recovery time were longer in the anesthetic combination of acepromazineketamine at 0.05 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively when compared to the anesthetic combination of acepromazine -ketamine at 0.01 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, IM. So, in this study, the duration of anesthesia was longer in ketamine -acepromazine combination as compared with ketamine alone (Table 1).

Body Reflexes Activity
Rightening Reflex In the current study, the different body reflexes activities were assessed during the anesthesia for the sake of assessing the depth of anesthesia. The rightening reflex was elicited by squeezing or pinching a digit of fore limb and observed whether the dog flexes the leg or withdraws the digit from the investigator during the examination after administration of the anesthetic combinations. In ketamine-acepromazine combination this reflex was lost at 13 ± 2.12132 minutes ( Table 2). In this study, the rightening reflex remained unchanged throughout the anesthesia in both groups.

Palpebral Reflex
The palpebral reflex was tested by lightly taping the lateral canthus or medial canthus of the eye and observed whether the dog blinks in response after administration of the anesthetic combinations. In ketamine-acepromazine combination this reflex was lost at 13.2±2.123 minutes ( Table 2). In this study, the palpebral reflex remained unchanged throughout the anesthesia in both groups.

Corneal Reflex, Eye Position and Pupil Size
Corneal reflex was tested by touching the cornea with a drop of sterile water and noted whether the dog blinks in response and withdraws the eye into the orbital fossa. In this observation, the time for corneal reflex loss was the same as to the time loss for palpebral reflex in all the three groups. In ketamine-acepromazine combination this reflex was lost at 13.2±2.123 minutes ( Table  2). In both groups the eyes remained opened, with a central and dilated pupil during the anesthesia. In this study, the corneal reflex remained unchanged throughout the anesthesia in both groups.

Pedal Reflex
The pedal reflex was elicited by squeezing or pinching a digit of hind limb and observed whether the dog flexes the leg or withdraws the digit from the investigator during the examination after administration of the anesthetic combinations. In ketamineacepromazine combination this reflex was lost at 13.7±2.223 minutes (Tables 2 & 3). In this study, the pedal reflex remained unchanged throughout the anesthesia in both groups.

Physiological Effects of Ketamine alone and Ketamine -Acepromazine Combination
In this study, the heart was decreased non-significantly (P = 0.064) from 30 minutes up to 40 minutes after administration of the anesthetic combination of acepromazine -ketamine on both doses ( Table 4). The recorded respiratory rate was decreased non-significantly (P = 0.067) from 10 minutes up to 40 minutes following administration of the anesthetic combination of acepromazineketamine on both doses ( Table 3). The recorded rectal temperature was also decreased non-significantly (P = 0.065) from 20 minutes up to 40 minutes after administration of the anesthetic combination of acepromazine -ketamine on both doses (Table 4).

Discussion
Ketamine is rarely used alone because of its association with poor muscle relaxation, tachycardia and catalepsy or muscle rigidity and it is therefore commonly used in combination with xylazine, diazepam and acepromazine to minimize the untoward effects the highest duration of anesthesia was observed in the dogs of Group 2 (experimental group) as compared to group 1 (control group). This might be due to wide-distribution of acepromazine and ketamine combination in the body, because they are highly soluble in lipid and can be redistributed into muscles and adipose tissues [13]. This finding difference in the present study from previous studies might be due to difference in breed and physiological status of the dogs or might be due to difference in dose of the anesthetic agents. The decrease in body temperature after the administration of ketamine alone and the acepromazine-ketamine, could be explained by blocking of the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center. The decrease in heart rate could be attributed to inhibition of the release of the neurotransmitter noradrenalin or depression of the sympathetic activity.
The decrease in respiratory rate could be attributed to depression of the respiratory center by the ketamine alone, acepromazine-ketamine [14]. The non-significant decrease in heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature in the present study when compared to other studies might be due to difference in breed and physiological status of the dogs or might be due to difference in dose of the sedative agents. In the present study, the average duration of anesthetic induction after administration of acepromazine -ketamine at 0.01 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, and ketamine alone at 5 mg/kg respectively were 62.8 ± 2.28 and 30 ± 1.05 minutes, respectively. This finding agrees with the studies by [15] reported 35.7 minutes of the average duration of anesthesia after administration of acepromazine and ketamine combination, but the onset of action was slower in the present finding when compared to observations separated by [15] he had reported average 4.2 minutes after administration of acepromazine and ketamine combination. The slower onset of action in the present finding when compared to the other studies might be due to difference in breed of the dog or due to difference in physiological status of the dog.
In this study, heart rate was increased significantly at 30-45 minutes after administration of ketamine alone but decreased non-significantly at 30-45 minutes, respiratory rate was decreased non-significantly at 10-45 and rectal temperature was decreased non-significantly at 20-45 minutes after administration of acepromazine at 0.05 mg/kg and ketamine at 10 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly. Relatively similar finding was reported by White et al (2001) who found decreased respiratory rate at the first 30 minutes after administration of the acepromazine at 0.03 mg/kg and ketamine at 5 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly on ten healthy dogs. After administration of ketamine alone, and with acepromazine -the hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophils were decreased nonsignificantly, but neutrophils were increased non-significantly. Pooling of circulating blood cells in the spleen and other reservoirs secondary to decreased sympathetic activity could be the reason for a decrease in hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophils [16].
The decrease in hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophils after administration of the acepromazine and ketamine combination might be attributed to the shifting of fluid from extravascular compartment to intravascular compartment to maintain normal cardiac output in the dogs [17]. This finding agrees with the findings of [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] who had reported decreased the hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophils and increased neutrophils after administration of acepromazine at 0.04 mg/kg and ketamine at 10mg/kg combination in dogs.

Conclusion
Ketamine is rarely used alone because of its association with poor muscle relaxation, visceral analgesia, tachycardia and catalepsy or muscle rigidity. Therefore, it is commonly used in combination with xylazine, diazepam and acepromazine to enhance muscle relaxation, to provide good visceral analgesia in case of abdominal surgery (including ovariohysterectomy) and thoracic surgery, to prevent seizures/convulsions and to prolong the duration of anesthetic effect. The study was conducted on 10 mature and apparently healthy local breed of dogs which were randomly grouped in to Group I and Group II. All dogs were premedicated using atropine (0.04 mg/kg BW, S.C) [26][27][28][29]. After 15 mints premedication, anesthesia induced with ketamine alone, and acepromazine-ketamine (5 mg /kg/-10.0 mg/kg, 0.01-.05+5-10mk/kg BW, I.M) for Group I, and Group II respectively. The anesthetic parameters; induction time, duration of anesthesia recovery period, the physiological parameters; temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and the hematological parameters; packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, hemoglobin determination were recorded and analyzed in both groups and all the anesthetic parameters were found statistically significant but the physiological and hematological parameters were statistically non-significant in both groups. The results of the present study concluded that acepromazine-ketamine combination is useful anesthetic protocol for rapid induction, prolonged duration of anesthesia; acepromazine-ketamine combination is useful anesthetic protocol for short duration of anesthesia and rapid recovery. All drug combinations do not affect the physiological and hematological parameters of the animals during the study time and all of them can be safe for surgical procedures if used safely and appropriately. However, further studies on several other anesthetic combinations i.e. (acepromazine + xylazine + ketamine and acepromazine + diazepam + ketamine) on local breed of dogs and several other anesthetic combinations may be conducted.