The pharmacological effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone combined with medetomidine and butorphanol in dogs

Abstract

The pharmacological effects of intramuscular (IM) administration of alfaxalone combined with medetomidine and butorphanol were evaluated in 6 healthy beagle dogs. Each dog received three treatments with a minimum 10-day interval between treatments. The dogs received an IM injection of alfaxalone 2.5 mg/kg (ALFX), medetomidine 2.5 µg/kg and butorphanol 0.25 mg/kg (MB), or their combination (MBA) 1 hr after the recovery from their instrumentation. Endotracheal intubation was attempted, and dogs were allowed to breath room air. Neuro-depressive effects (behavior changes and subjective scores) and cardiorespiratory parameters (rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, direct blood pressure, central venous pressure and blood gases) were evaluated before and at 2 to 120 min after IM treatment. Each dog became lateral recumbency, except for two dogs administered the MB treatment. The duration was longer in the MBA treatment compared with the ALFX treatment (100 ± 48 min vs 46 ± 13 min). Maintenance of the endotracheal tube lasted for 60 ± 24 min in five dogs administered the MBA treatment and for 20 min in one dog administered the ALFX treatment. Cardiorespiratory variables were maintained within clinically acceptable ranges, although decreases in heart and respiratory rates, and increases in central venous pressure occurred after the MBA and MB treatments. The MBA treatment provided an anesthetic effect that permitted endotracheal intubation without severe cardiorespiratory depression in healthy dogs.

Comparison of the Antinociceptive Potentiating Effect of Two Opioids when Combined with Detomidine or Diazepam in Dogs

“…Many literatures suggested that BTR has minimal cardiovascular and respiratory effects, but when administered with α2 agonists it increases their depressant effect on heart and respiratory rates (Trim, 1983, Ko, et al, 2000, Sinclair, 2003 also bradycardiac effects of α2 agonists and butorphanol appeared to be additive (Bartram et al 1994). We proved here in our study that the DTM have the same side effects of MDM and DXM when combined with BTR (Bartram, et al, 1994, Grimm et al, 2000, Ko, et al 2000, Leppanen et al, 2006, Salla et al, 2014, Puighibet et al, 2015, Lee et al, 2016, Tamura et al, 2016.…”

“…The common form of α2 agonist in pet clinics, medetomidine (MDM) showed similar effect when combined with BTR and the author's stated that MDM-BTR could be enough for sedation of dogs to perform various clinical procedures (Bartram et al 1994). The MDM and its dextro-isomer (dexmedetomidine) (DXM) also has been previously used in similar studies (Bartram et al, 1994, Grimm et al, 2000, Ko et al, 2000, Leppanen et al, 2006, Salla et al, 2014, Puighibet et al, 2015, Lee et al, 2016, Tamura et al, 2016. The same combination in other animal species also proved to be efficient for sedation and antinociception like in equine (Joubert et al, 1999, Abu-Ahmed, 2007 and in ruminant (Carroll et al, 1998, Lin andRiddell, 2003).…”

“…The most common and available analgesics nowadays are nalbuphine and butorphanol which classified as agonistantagonist opioids similar to morphine and are likely to produce sedation and analgesia (Jaff and Martin, 1985;Pascoe, 2000). Butorphanol was evaluated for its potentiating anesthetic effect in combination with sedatives (Salla et al, 2014;Kellihan et al, 2015, Puighibet et al, 2015Lee et al, 2016, Tamura et al, 2016 and tranquilizers (Seo et al, 2015). Nalbuphine has been suggested as a good component to provide balanced anesthesia ( Crul et al, 1990;Kothari and Sharma, 2013).…”

Effects of morphine‐alfaxalone‐midazolam premedication, alfaxalone induction and sevoflurane maintenance on intraocular pressure and tear production in dogs

“…Intravenous administration of general anaesthesia is sometimes difficult or even impossible in fearful or excited patients. The use of agents that can be administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly is recommended to reduce the stress of handling and the risk of damage to both patients and clinics (Tamura and others 2016). While there are some papers published about the ophthalmic effects of intravenous administration of alfaxalone ( Torres and others 2012, Hasiuk and others 2014, Costa and others 2015, Bauer and Ambros 2016), to the authors’ knowledge no studies have been performed on the ocular effects of intramuscular administration of this drug in premedication.…”

O Uso De Alfaxalona Em Pequenos Animais

“…Fato que não condiz com o apresentado por Tamura et al (2016), onde pela mesma via, mas utilizando metade da dose acima citada (isoladamente ou não), houve apenas recuperações tranquilas.…”