An ideal dexmedetomidine protocol has yet to be determined for standing sedation in horses. It was hypothesized that an intravenous (IV) bolus followed by continuous rate infusion (CRI) dexmedetomidine would have a quicker increase in plasma concentrations compared to repeated intramuscular (IM) injections. In a cross-over design, eight adult, female horses were randomly placed in two groups: the CRI group (IV bolus dexmedetomidine at 0.005 mg/kg followed by a CRI at 0.01 mg/kg/hr for 15 minutes then 0.005 mg/kg/hr for 60 minutes) and the IM group (dexmedetomidine at 0.01 mg/kg, followed by 0.005 mg/kg in 30-minute intervals for 60 minutes). Analgesia was evaluated using a mechanical pressure threshold device. Intravenous dexmedetomidine produced faster onset of sedation and increased pressure threshold compared to IM administration. Individual horses had a large variability in dexmedetomidine plasma concentrations between CRI and IM administration.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-6141 |
| Date | 30 April 2021 |
| Creators | Shane, Sarah E. |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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