title: Evaluation of sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of diazepam-butorphanol, acepromazine-butorphanol, and xylazine-butorphanol in ferrets.
abstract: Ten ferrets were used in a crossover study to determine the sedative effects of intramuscularly (IM) administered diazepam (3 mg/kg body weight)-butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg body weight), acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg body weight)-butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg body weight), or xylazine (2.0 mg/kg body weight)-butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg body weight). All ferrets became laterally recumbent following the administration of each drug combination. The xylazine-butorphanol combination caused a significantly longer (p less than 0.05) duration of analgesia than the diazepam-butorphanol and acepromazine-butorphanol combinations. None of the ferrets could be intubated with any of the drug combinations. The time from induction to recovery was significantly shorter in the acepromazine-butorphanol-treated ferrets. A significantly lower heart rate was observed in the xylazine-butorphanol-treated ferrets; however, an acceptable systolic blood pressure was maintained. Ventilatory function was more depressed in the diazepam-butorphanol- and xylazine-butorphanol-treated ferrets than in the acepromazine-butorphanol-treated ferrets. Xylazine-butorphanol was found to be the best combination for use in ferrets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large/Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0136, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villarreal
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Nicklin
mesh_terms: D000075:Acepromazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005289:Ferrets / Q000502:physiology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014991:Xylazine; D000075:Acepromazine; D003975:Diazepam; D002077:Butorphanol