3

CLINICIANS CORNERRISPERIDONE – A SAFE ORAL SEDATIVE FOR DOGS

Dinesh P.T., Sooryadas S. and Anuraj K.R. Dept. of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, COVAS, Pookode.

Anxious and vicious dogs are always a challenge for the practicing vets, and also for the owners presenting them

to the hospital, because they are difficult to be restrained for clinical examination and diagnostic/therapeutic procedures.

Since the sedatives available, when given orally, has less or unpredictable effects, the doctors skip oral medications and go

directly for injectable anaesthetic drugs.

Risperidone - a new second generation antipsychotic drug is safe and effective for restraining or even sedation of

difficult-to-control/aggressive dogs presented to the hospital. A protocol for oral sedation in dogs presented to practice

is described here.

Drugs

v Risperidone (60 ml liquid containing 1 mg of Risperidone per ml) marketed as RISNIA®

v Tramadol (50 mg Tablets)

Method

v Administer risperidone [@ 0.5 mg/kg (upto 1 mg/kg could be given based on temperament)] orally, either hand fed

with syringe (if owner could handle the dog) or in drinking water (if the owner is unable to hand feed the dog).

It should not be mixed with milk

v Followed by tablet tramadol (@ 5 mg/kg b.wt.). The tablet should be powdered and mixed in water and hand fed

using a syringe (if owner could handle the dog)or mixed in honey and given in spoon from which the dog licks the

medicine.

Visible effects of sedation

Æ You will notice salivation, hypoactivity, ptosis, nodding of head, staggering gait, dropping of head and sternal

recumbencyone after the other following oral administration of the drug. Salivation is an untoward effect (could

be because of bitter taste of tramadol).

Æ You will notice satisfactory level of sedation in around half-an-hour.

Æ Animals in sternal recumbency may sometimes raise their head when approached.

Æ Smooth handling will become possible following the effects of the oral administration.

Æ Satisfactory levels of sedation is possible with oral administration of this protocol.

Æ Risperidone alone or in combination with Tramadol can be used for translocation of dogs also.

Reference:

Anuraj K.R., Dinesh P.T., Sooryadas S., George Chandy, Sujith S. and Syam K. Venugopal (2016). Effects of oral

premedication with risperidone and tramadol in dogs. Indian J. Can. Pract.8(1):66-67

Anuraj K.R. (2015). Risperidone, tramadol and midazolam premedication for propofol anaesthesia in dogs. Thesis

submitted to Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Pookode .

4

EM SOLUTION IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRYDr. Baby Joseph, Assistant Director Department of Animal Husbandry

EM Solution is a comparatively new concept in

organic farming and is now widely used in various

agricultural activities. It is used in animal husbandry

activities as well as a deodourent and feed additive with

beneficial results.

E.M. is an abbreviation for Effective

Microorganisms. Microorganisms are tiny units of life

that are too small to be seen with the naked eye and

they exist everywhere in nature. Microorganisms are

crucial for maintaining the ecological balance. They carry

out chemical processes that make it possible for all other

organisms including humans to live. There are friendly

guys of the microbial worlds known as beneficial

microorganisms and a not so friendly group called

pathogens that are harmful and capable of producing

disease, decay and pollution.

v In 1982 Dr. Higa at the University of Ryukyus,

Okinawa Japan, discovered a specific group of

naturally occurring beneficial microorganisms with

an amazing ability to revive, restore, and preserve.

He named this group E.M. (Effective

microorganisms).

v EM is the trade mark used to identify this particular

mixture of beneficial organisms

v E.M. is a combined culture of aerobic and anaerobic

microorganisms that co-exist together to the

mutual advantage of both (symbiosis).

v E.M combines with the existing microorganisms

within the soil. They work together to build a healthy

living soil.

v E.M is not toxic or pathogenic and is safe for

humans, animals and the environment.

Current research indicates that EM cultures can

suppress soil-borne pathogens, accelerate the

decomposition of organic wastes, increase the availability

of mineral nutrients and useful organic compounds to

plants and animals, enhance the activities of beneficial

micro-organisms, e.g., mycorrhizae, nitrogen fixing bacteria,

and reduce the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

EM helps to increase beneficial soil micro-organisms and

supression of harmful ones.

Presently it is widely used as an organic preparation

with different dilutions and activation procedures mainly

for the following purposes.

1. Insect / Ectoparasite repellent

2. Soil revitalize

3. Foliage application

4. Quick composting and waste disposal

5. Animal husbandry activities.

Uses and Activation in Animal Husbandry

EM stock solution (Maple EM.1) is the dormant

version of EM. It has a shelf life of twelve months and is

dark brown in colour. EM stock solution needs to be

“extended” or “activated” prior to use.

Extension implies the following materials and steps:

One liter of Maple EM.1 and 1 kg or 1 liter of organically

grown jaggery (or molasses) are to be mixed with 20 liters

of water. The water has to be clean and free from chlorine.

The container should be of food-grade plastic. (Glass or

metal containers are not appropriate as the development

of gas may cause the container to break or explode.). It

should be clean, not contaminated with chemicals, and

have an airtight lid. Between the mixed liquid and the lid

only little air space should be left. As gas will develop during

the fermentation, the lid will have to be opened once a

day to release the pressure.

For the period of activation, in tropical regions such

as Kerala, the container has to be placed in shade at

ambient temperatures (20-40 degrees Celsius) without

exposure to strong temperature fluctuations. Depending

on actual ambient temperatures, extended EM (AEM) will

be ready after five to seven days: AEM has a pleasant sweet-

sour smell and a pH of about 3.5 (below 4).

5Thus, from one liter of EM stock solution and one

kg of jaggery, you can produce 22 liters AEM ready for use.

In hygiene, AEM is being used full strength or in dilution

with water up to 1:100; in farming in dilutions ranging from

1:200 to 1:1,000; and in wastewater treatment diluted (with

effluent or sewage) up to several thousand times.

As the ideal microbial composition of AEM will

deteriorate over time, it should be used within one month.

Users are advised to prepare only so much of AEM as can

be used within one month. EM stock solution should be

extended only once. 

EM stock solution can also be extended with the

help of rice water and sugar. In kitchens and canteens

where large amounts of rice are washed every day, or in

places where molasses and jaggery are not readily available,

the water used for the washing of rice can be used for the

activation of EM stock solution. Collect the water of the

first two or three washings of rice. Then Mix 3 volume

parts of Maple EM.1 and 2 volume parts of sugar with 95

volume parts of the rice water. Store the mixture in an air-

tight plastic container and deal with it in the same fashion

as said for jaggery-based AEM.

Rice wash AEM is used in the same way as jaggery-

based AEM. It has the advantage of being white in colour

and hence is more readily accepted in the context of

hygiene management.

Activated EM is used as deodorant in poultry, piggery,

rabbit and other farms in Kerala. Animal Husbandry wing

of Krishi Vijyan Kendra, CMFRI, Kochi had conducted

various field trials on usage of AEM in AH and their

observations were summarized as follows.

1) Use of EM solution for de-odorizing animal

sheds: This programme was implemented in selected

farmer’s fields at Aluva, Thrikkakara and Thevara. There

was slight odor reduction in dairy sheds while

promising results have been obtained in case of rabbit

sheds. When EM solution was used in drinking water,

it was found to be effective by acting as probiotic in

dairy animals and thus helped in increasing the fat

content and milk yield. Its use is also found to increase

the gas production in biogas unit. From this FLD, EM

can be effectively used in odor reduction in rabbit

sheds whereas it can be used as a probiotic in dairy

animals

2) Use of EM solution for deodorizing poultry

sheds: This FLD was done in different areas of Kochi

Corporation. Addition of EM solution in drinking water

of the birds and spraying near the cages, floor and

bedding material helped in odor reduction in these

units. So use of EM solution will help to reduce the

odor problem and thus promote rearing of poultry

birds in urban areas.

Availability of EM Stock Solution

In India, Maple Orgtech (india) ltd, Kolkata are the

sole licensed manufacturers of authentic EM as developed

by Dr. Teruo Higa, Okinawa, Japan. Dr. Higa has clearly

expressed his views on copies of the product in several

countries and on the use of the term “Effective

Microorganisms” by other manufacturers. Accordingly

Maple had developed several EM1 solutions for different

uses. But agricultural EM1 can be used for AH purposes

and is freely available in all pesticide shops. Activated EM is

prepared and marketed by Khadhi Village Industries and

many Non Government Organisations in AH field.

Specific Maple EM1 for cattle, PASHUAMRUT is

available in 1litre (Rs 413/-) and 5 litre (Rs 2032/-) and

their Feed additive ANIMAL BAKSHI in1 kg packs

(Rs 102/-). Current details and price can be verified in

their site www.mapleorgtech.com.

6

ABC -˛ k¿°m¿ \bØn¬ IVA˛ bpsS \ne]mSv

of India. No dog shall be euthanised in the presence

of another dog. The person responsible for

euthanising shall make sure that the animal is

dead, before disposal. 

10. Furious or dumb rabid dogs : (1) On the receipt of

complaints from the public to the Dog Control Cell

of the Local Authority or on its own, the dog squad

of the Local Authority would catch such dogs,

suspected to be rabid. (2) The caught dog would

then be taken to the pound where it would be

isolated in an isolation ward. (3) The suspected

rabid dog would then be subjected to inspection

by a panel of two persons i.e. (i) a veterinary

surgeon appointed by the Local Authority and (ii)a

representative from an Animal Welfare Organisation

(4) If the dog is found to have a high probability of

having rabies it would be isolated till it dies a natural

death. Death normally occurs within 10 days of

contracting rabies. Premature killings of suspected

rabid dogs therefore prevents the true incidence of

rabies from being known and appropriate action

being taken. (5) If the dog is found not to have rabies

but some other disease it would be handed over to

the AWOs who will take the necessary action to

cure and rehabilitate the dog.

s]mXpP\mtcmKysØ {]XnIqeambn_m[n°p∂ sXcphv \mb ieytØbpwt]hnj_m[tbbpw ka{Kambn \n¿am¿÷\wsNøp∂Xn\mbn tIcfk¿°m¿ C—mi‡ntbmSpIqSn \S∏n¬ hcpØm≥ Dt±in°p∂ ABC

]≤Xn°p≈ F√m kmt¶XnI klmbhpw]cn]q¿Æ ]n¥pWbpw C≥Uy≥ sh‰dn\dnAt mkntbj≥ hmKvZm\w sNøp∂p.

tIc-f-Øn¬ sXcphv \mb ieyw cq£-ambXns\ XpS¿∂v. sXcphv \mbv°sf ABC ]≤-Xn°v hnt[-b-am-°m≥ Xocp-am-\n® tIcf k¿°m¿\S-]-Sn°v C≥Uy≥ sh-‰-dn-\dn Atkm-kn-tb-js‚]q¿Æ ]n¥pW Adn-bn-°p-∂p. C≥Uy≥ sh‰-dn-\dn Atkm-kn-tb-j≥ Cu hnj-b-hp-ambn _‘-s∏´ Xøm-dm-°nb ABC {Um v̂‰v cq]-tc-J-bn¬ Bh-iy-s∏-´Xp {]Imcw Icm¿ ASn-ÿm-\-Øn¬ sh‰-dn-\dn tUmIvS¿amsc \nb-an-°p-hm≥ \S-]Sn kzoI-cn® k¿°m¿ \bw k¿∆m-fl\ Atkm-kn-tb-j≥kzmKXw sNøp-∂p. \ne-hnse sXcp-hv\mb iey-Øn\v ]cn -lm-c -ambn kwÿm-\sØ Hmtcmtªm°nepw ABC tI{µ-߃ {]h¿Øn-°-W-sa-∂n-cn-s°, XpS-°-sa∂ \ne-bn¬ Hmtcm Pn√-bnepwNpcp-ßn-bXv c≠n-S-sØ-¶nepw AWBI bpsS S.O.P

{]Im-c-ap≈ ABC tI{µ-߃ ÿm]n-t°-≠-Xm-Wv.{]kvXpX tI{µ-ß-fpsS {]h¿Ø\ ta¬ t\m´-Øn\pw hnhn[ hIp-∏p-I-fpsS GtIm-]-\-Øn-\p-ambnarK-kw-c-£W hIp∏v Xe-Øn¬ SLBP amXr-I-bn¬Hcp ABC hnwKv cq]o-I-cn-t°-≠-Xm-Wv. arK-kw-c-£W hIp-∏n¬ \nb-a\w \S-ØmsX Hgn-®n-´n-cn-°p∂ XkvXn-I-fn¬ Bh-iym-\p-k-cWw sh‰-dn-\dnk¿P-∑msc \nb-an®p sIm≠v ABC hnwKv {]h¿Ø\k÷-am-°-Ww.

2001 ˛ ¬ ]m¿e-sa‚ v ]mkm-°nb BIvSv{]Imcw ABC am{Xta sXcp-hv\mb iey-Øn\vimizX ]cn-lm-c-ambn \S-∏nem°phm≥ km[n-°p-I-bp-≈q. 2001 se Cu \nbaw \ne-\n¬t°k¿°m¿, tImSXn DØ-chpIƒt°m, Xt±i kzbw`cW ÿm]-\-ß-fp-tStbm a‰p ÿm]-\-ß-fp-tStbmDØ-c-hp-Iƒt°m Cu BIvSns\ adnIS°phm≥km[ya√.

ABC - AR Dog Rules 2001

9. Euthanasia of Street Dogs : Incurably ill and mortally

wounded dogs as diagnosed by a qualified

veterinarian appointed by the committee shall be

euthanised during specified hours in a humane

manner by administering sodium pentathol for adult

dogs and Thiopental Introperitoneal for puppies by

a qualified veterinarian or euthanised in any other

humane manner approved by Animal Welfare Board