title: Effects of a medetomidine-ketamine combination on Schirmer tear test I results of clinically normal cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of a medetomidine-ketamine combination on tear production of clinically normal cats by use of the Schirmer tear test (STT) 1 before and during anesthesia and after reversal of medetomidine with atipamezole.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 client-owned crossbred domestic shorthair cats (23 males and 17 females; age range, 6 to 24 months).
  
  
  METHODS
  A complete physical examination, CBC, and ophthalmic examination were performed on each cat. Cats with no abnormalities on physical and ophthalmic examinations were included in the study. Cats were allocated into 2 groups: a control group (n = 10 cats) anesthetized by administration of a combination of medetomidine hydrochloride (80 μg/kg) and ketamine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg), and an experimental group (30) anesthetized with the medetomidine-ketamine combination and reversal by administration of atipamezole. Tear production of both eyes of each cat was measured by use of the STT I before anesthesia, 15 minutes after the beginning of anesthesia, and 15 minutes after administration of atipamezole.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anesthesia with a medetomidine-ketamine combination of cats with no ophthalmic disease caused a significant decrease in tear production. The STT I values returned nearly to preanesthetic values within 15 minutes after reversal with atipamezole, whereas the STT I values for the control group were still low at that point.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated that a tear substitute should be administered to eyes of cats anesthetized with a medetomidine-ketamine combination from the time of anesthetic administration until at least 15 minutes after administration of atipamezole.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Macrì
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bonarrigo
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giudice
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo Piccionello
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pugliese
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine