title: Sublingual administration of detomidine to calves prior to disbudding: a comparison with the intravenous route.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of oromucosal detomidine gel administered sublingually to calves prior to disbudding, and to compare its efficacy with intravenously (IV) administered detomidine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised, prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty dairy calves aged 12.4 ± 4.4days (mean ± SD), weight 50.5 ± 9.0 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Detomidine at 80 μg kg(-1) was administered to ten calves sublingually (GEL) and at 30 μg kg(-1) to ten control calves IV (V. jugularis). Meloxicam (0.5 mg kg(-1) ) and local anaesthetic (lidocaine 3 mg kg(-1) ) were administered before heat cauterization of horn buds. Heart rate (HR), body temperature and clinical sedation were monitored over 240 minutes. Blood was collected from the V. cephalica during the same period for drug concentration analysis. Pharmacokinetic variables were calculated from the plasma detomidine concentration-time data using non-compartmental methods. Statistical analyses compared routes of administration by Student's t-test and linear mixed models as relevant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximum plasma detomidine concentration after GEL was 2.1 ± 1.2 ng mL(-1) (mean ±SD) and the time of maximum concentration was 66.0 ± 36.9 minutes. The bioavailability of detomidine was approximately 34% with GEL. Similar sedation scores were reached in both groups after administration of detomidine, but maximal sedation was reached earlier in the IV group (10 minutes) than in the GEL group (40 minutes). HR was lower after IV than GEL from 5 to 10 minutes after administration. All animals were adequately sedated, and we were able to administer local anaesthetic without resistance to all of the calves before disbudding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oromucosally administered detomidine is an effective sedative agent for calves prior to disbudding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Ann-Helena
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hokkanen
authors.forename: Marja R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Raekallio
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salla
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hänninen
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viitasaari
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norring
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raussi
authors.forename: Valtteri M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rinne
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheinin
authors.forename: Outi M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Vainio
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006339:Heart Rate; D006733:Horns / Q000601:surgery*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C041255:detomidine
keywords: calves; detomidine; disbudding; oromucosal; sedatives; welfare