title: A xylazine infusion regimen to provide analgesia in sheep.
abstract: The efficacy of continuous low-dose xylazine infusion following an initial loading dose in providing analgesia in sheep was examined using an algesimetry method based on a leg lifting response to an electrical stimulus. Sheep received a 5 mg intramuscular injection of xylazine followed by continuous infusion of intravenous xylazine (2mg/h) for 90 min. This treatment resulted in significant increases in the level of current required to elicit a leg lifting response (287% of baseline) and steady state analgesia was maintained from 10 min after the start of the infusion until the end of the experimental period. This protocol appears to be a simple and effective regimen for providing steady state analgesia in sheep.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Adelaide, South Australia. cgrant@medicine.adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Summersides
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kuchel
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D014991:Xylazine