Journal of Veterinary Medical Research (Dec 2013)
Physiological Response to the Stress Effect of Anesthesia and Surgery in Sheep and Goat
Abstract
The present study was established to evaluate and compare stress response to anesthesia as well as surgery in sheep and goat. For this purpose, 5 rams and 5 bucks underwent anesthesia alone followed a week later by anesthesia with rumenotomy. Serum cortisol levels as well as differential leucocytic count were assayed just prior to anesthesia (0 time) and then after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours post anesthesia. In the second experiment, blood samples were collected just prior to anesthesia (0 time) then after half an hour (0 time post rumenotomy) then after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours post completion of rumenotomy. Serum cortisol levels in both species increased significantly and reach its peak one hour following anesthesia (3.31 ± 0.17 and 4.09 ± 0.12, respectively) which were higher than subsequent cortisol levels. In addition, Peak cortisol level in sheep obtained at 0 time post rumenotomy (4.39 ± 0.13) and 1 hour following rumenotomy in goat (3.45 ± 0.16). The significant increase in cortisol level persists for 6 hours and returns to normal level 24 hours following surgery.
