The pharmacokinetics, pharmacological responses and behavioral effects of acepromazine in the horse

Ballard, Steve; Shults, Theodore; Kownacki, A. A.; Blake, J. W.; Tobin, Thomas

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.1982.tb00495.x

Cited by 70 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…At clinically effective IM and IV dosages in large, domestic animals, plasma concentrations of acepromazine are low and difficult to detect (Ballard et al 1982). Plasma concentrations in Cases 2 and 3 were comparable to those achieved in horses dosed higher at 0.3 mg/kg IV (Ballard et al 1982). No measured acepromazine concentrations were sufficient to raise a concern of relay toxicity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Low-Residue Euthanasia of Stranded Mysticetes

Harms

McLellan

Moore

et al. 2014

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:Euthanasia of stranded large whales poses logistic, safety, pharmaceutical, delivery, public relations, and disposal challenges. Reasonable arguments may be made for allowing a stranded whale to expire naturally. However, slow cardiovascular collapse from gravitational effects outside of neutral buoyancy, often combined with severely debilitating conditions, motivate humane efforts to end the animal's suffering. The size of the animal and prevailing environmental conditions often pose safety concerns for stranding personnel, which take priority over other considerations. When considering chemical euthanasia, the size of the animal also necessitates large quantities of euthanasia agents. Drug residues are a concern for relay toxicity to scavengers, particularly for pentobarbital-containing euthanasia solutions. Pentobarbital is also an environmental concern because of its stability and long persistence in aquatic environments. We describe a euthanasia technique for stranded mysticetes using readily available, relatively inexpensive, preanesthetic and anesthetic drugs (midazolam, acepromazine, xylazine) followed by saturated KCl delivered via custom-made needles and a low-cost, basic, pressurized canister. This method provides effective euthanasia while moderating personnel exposure to hazardous situations and minimizing drug residues of concern for relay toxicity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Low-Residue Euthanasia of Stranded Mysticetes

Harms

McLellan

Moore

et al. 2014

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…The sedative effect of acepromazine was variable between horses with a maximum effect about 45 minutes after injection. The phenothiazine tranquilizer is widely used in equines [8,18] and is well known for its dose-dependent sedation [15,18] and lack of somatic antinociceptive effects [9,15]. Acepromazine has α 1 -adrenolytic activity, depresses the vasomotor center followed by hypotension, vasodilatation and increased digital blood flow [19-22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nociceptive thermal threshold testing in horses – effect of neuroleptic sedation and neuroleptanalgesia at different stimulation sites

et al. 2013

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BackgroundAim of the study was to compare the effect of neuroleptic sedation with acepromazine and neuroleptanalgesia with acepromazine and buprenorphine on thermal thresholds (TT) obtained at the nostrils and at the withers. The study was carried out as a randomized, blinded, controlled trial with cross-over design. Thermal thresholds were determined by incremental contact heat applied to the skin above the nostril (N) or the withers (W). Eleven horses were treated with saline (S), acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) (ACE) or acepromazine and buprenorphine (0.0075 mg/kg) (AB) intravenously (IV). Single stimulations were performed 15 minutes prior and 15, 45, 75, 105, 165, 225, 285, 405 and 525 minutes after treatment. Sedation score, gastrointestinal auscultation score and occurrence of skin lesions were recorded. Data were analysed with analysis of variance for repeated measurements.ResultsThere were no significant differences in TT between N and W with all treatments. The TT remained constant after S and there was no difference in TT between S and ACE. After AB there was a significant increase above baseline in TT until 405 minutes after treatment. Restlessness occurred 30–90 minutes after AB in 7 horses. All horses had reduced to absent borborygmi after AB administration for 165 to 495 minutes.ConclusionThermal stimulation at both described body areas gives comparable results in the assessment of cutaneous anti-nociception in horses. There is no differential influence of neuroleptic sedation or neuroleptanalgesia on TTs obtained at N or W. Buprenorphine combined with acepromazine has a long lasting anti-nociceptive effect associated with the typical opioid induced side effects in horses.

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“…It also antagonizes histamine, muscarinic acetylcholine, and alpha-1 receptors. In animals, it is thought to be highly lipophilic with high protein binding and a large volume of distribution [6]. The toxic amount of acepromazine in humans has not been established, and dosing estimates in overdose cases are not well reported [7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%