title: The effect of butorphanol on the incidence of dexmedetomidine-induced emesis in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Τo evaluate the antiemetic effect of butorphanol (BUT) when co-administered with dexmedetomidine (DEX) in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, randomized controlled cross-over experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen purpose-bred healthy Domestic Short Hair cats, seven females and seven males, aged median (range) 14-84 (78) months and weighing 1.7-5.5 (4.0) kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each cat received five different treatment protocols intramuscularly (IM): (A) 25 μg kg(-1) DEX; (B) 20 μg kg(-1) DEX and 0.2 mg kg(-1) BUT; (C) 20 μg kg(-1) DEX and 0.1 mg kg(-1) BUT; (D) 25 μg kg(-1) DEX and 0.2 mg kg(-1) BUT; and (E) 20 μg kg(-1) DEX. Episodes of emesis, incidence and severity of nausea, and time to lateral recumbency were recorded for a period of 8 minutes after treatment administration, and the sedation was scored at the end of this period. The Friedman test and the Cochran's Q-test were used to analyse the data. Significance was evaluated at the 5% level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of cats that vomited was significantly lower with the treatment protocols that included BUT (B, C and D) compared with the protocols that included only DEX (A and E). The proportion of cats that had nausea was significantly higher with the protocols that included only DEX (A and E) compared with protocols B and D. Time to lateral recumbency (p=0.09) and sedation score (p=0.07) was not statistically different between the treatment protocols.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Butorphanol can be used to prevent emesis and reduce the incidence and the severity of nausea caused by DEX in cats. It seems that the combination of BUT and DEX is very useful not only when emesis could result in serious complications, but also to provide comfort and well-being in cats sedated for minor procedures.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Papastefanou
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Apostolos D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Galatos
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lymperis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Animal Health Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Polychronis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kostoulas
mesh_terms: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000932:Antiemetics; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D002077:Butorphanol
keywords: antiemetic; butorphanol; cat; dexmedetomidine; emesis