title: The sedative effects of intramuscular low-dose medetomidine in combination with butorphanol or methadone in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the sedative effects of an intramuscular (IM) low dose of medetomidine in combination with butorphanol or methadone in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight healthy adult dogs that required sedation for diagnostic or surgical elective procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were sedated IM with medetomidine (2.5 μg kg(-1)) and either butorphanol (0.4 mg kg(-1)) or methadone (0.4 mg kg(-1)). The degree of sedation was assessed every 10 minutes, for 30 minutes, using a numeric descriptive scale. Data on heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, capillary refill time, temperature and response to a toe pinch were recorded. The response to venous catheterization at minute 30 was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both combinations produced moderate to deep sedation with a maximal effect at 20-30 minutes without significant differences in the degree of sedation between the treatments at any studied time-point. HR decreased from minute 10 to minute 30 with both opioid combinations (p<0.05); this reduction did not differ between groups (p>0.05). No differences between groups were detected in any of the other variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combinations of a low dose of medetomidine with butorphanol or methadone, respectively, provide similar degrees of sedation.
authors: Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Autonomous University of Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Zoë
authors: Z
authors: Puighibet
authors: Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Autonomous University of Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Costa-Farré
authors: Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Autonomous University of Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Santos
authors: Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Complutense University of Madrid), Madrid, Spain.
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: Canfrán
authors: Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Complutense University of Madrid), Madrid, Spain.
authors: Ignacio A
authors: IA
authors: Gómez de Segura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020926:Medetomidine; D002077:Butorphanol; D008691:Methadone
keywords: butorphanol; dogs; medetomidine; methadone; sedation