title: Comparison of the sedative effects of medetomidine and xylazine in horses.
abstract: The sedative effects in horses of the new alpha 2 agonist medetomidine were compared with those of xylazine. Four ponies and one horse were treated on separate occasions with two doses of medetomidine (5 micrograms/kg bodyweight and 10 micrograms/kg bodyweight) and with one dose of xylazine (1 mg/kg bodyweight) given by intravenous injection. Medetomidine at 10 micrograms/kg was similar to 1 mg/kg xylazine in its sedative effect but produced more severe and more prolonged ataxia, and one animal fell over during the study. Medetomidine at 5 micrograms/kg produced less sedation but a similar degree of ataxia to 1 mg/kg xylazine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Surgery and Medicine, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: England
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine; D014991:Xylazine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; D014991:Xylazine; D020926:Medetomidine