Hypothermia during rodent anesthesia can alter drug metabolism and recovery. This study examined the impact of body temperature maintenance with a warming pad on ketamine-alfaxalone anesthesia in rats. Sixteen male Lewis rats (8 weeks, 250-300 g) were assigned to four groups (n=4) based on ketamine dose (15 or 45 mg/kg, IP) with alfaxalone (3 mg/kg) and warming use. Induction time, analgesia, anesthesia duration, body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate were recorded. Warming significantly reduced analgesia and anesthesia durations at both ketamine doses compared with unwarmed rats, despite a threefold dose difference. Body temperature was maintained near 37 °C with warming but declined to ~34 °C without. Heart rate and respiratory rate decreased during anesthesia and normalized upon recovery. Warming pad use during ketamine-alfaxalone anesthesia prevented hypothermia and shortened anesthesia duration, supporting its routine application to enhance consistency and animal welfare.
1. Introduction
2. Materials and methods
3. Results
4. Discussion
Acknowledgement
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