Subcutaneous pre-anaesthetic medication with acepromazine-buprenorphine is effective as and less painful than the intramuscular route.
OBJECTIVE
To compare reaction to injection, sedation and propofol induction dose in dogs receiving acepromazine-buprenorphine pre-anaesthetic medication by the intramuscular or subcutaneous routes.


METHODS
Fifty-two client owned dogs of American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I or II anaesthetised for diagnostic imaging. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive acepromazine 0.03 mg/kg and buprenorphine 0.02 mg/kg either intramuscular or subcutaneous. Reaction to injection was scored. Sedation was compared before and one hour after pre-anaesthetic medication. Propofol was administered in 1 mg/kg incremental injections until tracheal intubation was achieved. Total propofol dose was recorded.


RESULTS
Reaction to injection was significantly greater (P=0.009) in the intramuscular group compared to the subcutaneous group. Sedation scores were not significantly different (P=0.523) between the intramuscular and the subcutaneous group. There was no statistically significant difference in propofol dose for induction (P=0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
Acepromazine-buprenorphine pre-anaesthetic medication provides a similar degree of sedation whether administered by the intramuscular or subcutaneous route. The intramuscular route is more painful compared to the subcutaneous route.
Gurney
M
M
Northwest Surgeons, Delamere House, Ashville Point, Cheshire.
Cripps
P
P
Mosing
M
M
D000075:Acepromazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D054810:Deep Sedation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D002047:Buprenorphine; D000075:Acepromazine; D015742:Propofol