title: Incidence of seizures associated with the use of acepromazine in dogs undergoing myelography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the frequency of seizures associated with acepromazine administration when used as a premedicant with methadone for dogs undergoing myelography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University veterinary teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six dogs (mixed and pure breeds), aged between 4 months and 15 years, weighing between 3.5-61 kg. All animals were classified as ASA score I or II.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three animals were premedicated with methadone (0.1-0.5 mg/kg) and acepromazine (0.01-0.05 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Twenty-three animals were premedicated with methadone alone (0.1-0.5 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Anesthesia was induced with propofol intravenously and maintained with isoflurane delivered in 100% oxygen. All animals received a balanced isotonic crystalloid solution intravenously at a rate of 10 mL/kg/h. Blood pressure, end-tidal CO(2) , oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and heart rate were monitored throughout anesthesia. Animals requiring surgery immediately following myelography were excluded from the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of seizures was 14% (CI: 3.6-24.3%) and 13.0% (CI: 0.7-27%) in dogs that received methadone/acepromazine and methadone alone, respectively. There was no significant difference in the frequency of seizures between dogs receiving methadone/acepromazine or methadone alone (P = 1). Analysis of the association of site of injection of the contrast and the frequency of seizures in dogs receiving methadone/acepromazine showed no significant difference in the frequency of seizures following cervical injection (25%; CI: 0.5-24.5%) or lumbar injection (9.7%; CI: -0.7-20.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The administration of acepromazine combined with methadone as a premedicant used with propofol and isoflurane anesthesia did not significantly increase the frequency of seizures following myelography compared to dogs who received methadone alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital, Murdoch, Australia. e.drynan@murdoch.edu.au
authors.forename: Eleanor A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Drynan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Anthea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Raisis
mesh_terms: D000075:Acepromazine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004285:Dogs; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009192:Myelography / Q000662:veterinary*; D011292:Premedication / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D000075:Acepromazine; D008691:Methadone