Clinical comparison of xylazine and medetomidine for premedication of horses.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of medetomidine and xylazine when used for premedication of horses undergoing general anesthesia.


METHODS
Randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
40 horses.


METHODS
Twenty horses were premedicated with medetomidine (10 microg/kg [4.5 microg/lb], i.m.) and the other 20 were premedicated with xylazine (2 mg/kg [0.9 mg/kg], i.m.). Horses were then anesthetized with a combination of guaifenesin and ketamine; anesthesia was maintained with halothane. Additional doses of medetomidine or xylazine were given if horses were not sufficiently sedated at the time of anesthetic induction. After induction of anesthesia, sodium pentothal was administered as necessary to prevent limb movements. Hypotension was treated with dobutamine; hypoventilation and hypoxemia were treated with intermittent positive-pressure ventilation. The quality of anesthetic induction, maintenance, and recovery and the quality of the transition to inhalation anesthesia were scored.


RESULTS
Scores for the quality of the transition to inhalation anesthesia were significantly higher for horses premedicated with medetomidine than for horses premedicated with xylazine. However, other scores, recovery times, and numbers of attempts needed to achieve sternal recumbency and to stand were not significantly different between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that medetomidine is suitable for premedication of horses undergoing general anesthesia. Analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of medetomidine were similar to those of xylazine, except that the transition to inhalation anesthesia was smoother when horses were premedicated with medetomidine, rather than xylazine.
Yamashita
Kazuto
K
Department of Veterinary Surgery 1, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
Muir
William W
WW
Tsubakishita
Sae
S
Abrahamsen
Eric
E
Lerch
Phillip
P
Hubbell
John A E
JA
Bednarski
Richard M
RM
Skarda
Roman T
RT
Izumisawa
Yasuharu
Y
Kotani
Tadao
T
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000662:veterinary; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D000777:Anesthetics; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication / Q000662:veterinary*; D014991:Xylazine
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000777:Anesthetics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014991:Xylazine; D020926:Medetomidine