Sedative and physiologic effects of orally administered alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists and ketamine in cats.
OBJECTIVE
To compare efficacy of 3 regimens of orally administered sedatives and determine physiologic effects of 1 of these regimens in healthy cats.


METHODS
Prospective randomized study.


METHODS
34 cats.


METHODS
Cats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups that were treated by oral administration of detomidine and ketamine, xylazine and ketamine, or medetomidine and ketamine. Cats were monitored for degree of sedation at 5-minute intervals for 60 minutes. Physiologic effects in cats treated with detomidine and ketamine were measured at 5-minute intervals for 30 minutes and compared with effects in cats treated i.m. with detomidine and ketamine or xylazine and ketamine.


RESULTS
All cats treated orally with detomidine and ketamine became laterally recumbent; sedation was more variable in the other 2 groups treated orally. Vomiting and excessive salivation were the only adverse effects. Bradycardia (heart rate < 145 beats/min) was detected at each evaluation time in cats treated orally with detomidine and ketamine and in all cats treated i.m. Minimal differences among groups were detected for heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, and hemoglobin oxygen saturation.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral administration of detomidine and ketamine is an effective method of sedating healthy cats and induces minimal physiologic effects that are similar to those resulting from i.m. administration of sedatives.
Grove
D M
DM
Department of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901-1071, USA.
Ramsay
E C
EC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010092:Oximetry / Q000662:veterinary; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; D014991:Xylazine; D007649:Ketamine; C041255:detomidine; D020926:Medetomidine; D010100:Oxygen