title: Evaluation of dexmedetomidine and ketamine in combination with various opioids as injectable anesthetic combinations for castration in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and cardiorespiratory effects of dexmedetomidine-ketamine in combination with butorphanol, hydromorphone, or buprenorphine with or without reversal by atipamezole in cats undergoing castration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, split-plot, blinded study.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 healthy male cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cats were assigned to receive dexmedetomidine (25 ?g/kg [11.4 ?g/lb]) and ketamine (3 mg/kg [1.4 mg/lb]) with butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg [0.09 mg/lb]; DKBut; n = 10), hydromorphone (0.05 mg/kg [0.023 mg/lb]; DKH; 10), or buprenorphine (30 ?g/kg [13.6 ?g/lb]; DKBup; 10). Drugs were administered as a single IM injection. Supplemental isoflurane was administered to cats if the level of anesthesia was inadequate for surgery. At the conclusion of surgery, half the cats (5 cats in each treatment group) received atipamezole (250 ?g/kg [113.6 ?g/lb], IM) and the remainder received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution IM. All cats received meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, SC) immediately prior to the conclusion of surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All drug combinations induced lateral recumbency, and intubation was achievable in 13 of 30 (43%) cats at 10 minutes after injection. Supplemental isoflurane was needed for the surgery in 1 of 10 of the DKBut-, 2 of 10 of the DKH-, and 7 of 10 of the DKBup-treated cats. Cats that received atipamezole had a significantly shorter recovery time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DKBut and DKH combinations were suitable injectable anesthetic protocols for castration in cats commencing at 10 minutes after injection, but cats receiving DKBup may require additional time or anesthetics for adequate anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. jcko@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Jeff C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Brenda R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barletta
authors.forename: Ann B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Weil
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Krimins
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Payton
mesh_terms: D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002415:Cats / Q000601:surgery*; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D004091:Hydromorphone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D002047:Buprenorphine; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D007649:Ketamine; D004091:Hydromorphone; D002077:Butorphanol