Epidural anesthesia in Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): a comparison of lidocaine, xylazine and a combination of lidocaine and xylazine

To evaluate and compare the analgesic effects of a combination of lidocaine and xylazine to lidocaine or xylazine administered alone for epidural anesthesia in Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Prospective, randomized, ‘blinded’, crossover experimental study. A total of 12 female Egyptian water buffalo. Buffalo were randomly assigned to one of three epidural treatments administered through the sacrococcygeal joint: a local anesthetic (2% lidocaine, 0.22 mg kg−1), an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist (xylazine, 0.1 mg kg−1) or a combination of both drugs in a crossover fashion with a 14 day washout period. The total volume of each treatment was fixed at 7.0 mL by adding 0.9% NaCl. Onset, maximal effect, and duration of epidural anesthesia were recorded. Caudal epidural anesthesia was easily performed, and all three treatments produced local anesthesia of the tail and perineal structures of standing buffalo. Onset of epidural anesthesia was faster (p