The use of combined xylazine and lignocaine epidural injection in ewes with vaginal or uterine prolapses

Two millilitres of solution calculated to contain 0.07 mg/kg xylazine and 0.5 mg/kg lignocaine injected at the sacrococcygeal epidural site provided caudal analgesia within 2 min in 61 sheep. This analgesic protocol eliminated forceful abdominal straining behavior following replacement of vaginal prolapse for at least 24 h in 48 of 52 ewes (92 %) and in all 9 ewes with uterine prolapse. Moderate pelvic limb ataxia was observed in 25 sheep (41 %) for up to 24 h after epidural injection. Sedation was noted in one ewe but no other systemic effects of xylazine injection, such as excessive salivation or ruminal distension, were observed. No long-term adverse reactions to xylazine injection were noted. The combined epidural injection regimen of xylazine and lignocaine is recommended as an adjunct for pain relief and control of abdominal straining following replacement of vaginal and uterine prolapse in ewes.