Lack of effects of intramuscular medetomidine on intraocular pressure in clinically normal cats.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the effects of intramuscular medetomidine on the results of tonometry in healthy cats.


METHODS
Sixteen healthy cats were randomly divided into two groups of eight cats. The first group was sedated with intramuscular medetomidine alone (100 µg/kg) and the second group received only saline (0.5 ml/5 kg). Intraocular pressure (IOP) values were measured immediately before (T0) and after the injections at 15 mins (T15) and 25 mins (T25) in both groups.


RESULTS
Sedation with medetomidine did not cause a statistically significant change in the mean IOP values. The pretreatment mean ± SD IOPs in the treatment and control groups were 16.2 ± 3.1 and 15.9 ± 4.0 mmHg, respectively. In the medetomidine group the mean ± SD IOPs at T15 and T25 were 16.1 ± 4.1 (P = 0.9) and 14.6 ± 2.2 (P = 0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on this study in healthy cats, medetomidine may be a good choice as a sedative agent in uncooperative cats when IOP measurements are needed. Further investigations in cats with abnormal IOPs are warranted.
Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abdolali
A
Malmasi
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Alborz, Iran selkghaffari@gmail.com.
Masoud
M
Selk Ghaffari
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases; D002415:Cats; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020926:Medetomidine