USE OF MEDETOMIDINE AND BUTORPHANOL FOR SEDATION IN DOGS

Medetomidien 10 mug/kg, was combined with butorphanol 0.1 mg/kg and ad ministered intramuscularly to 27 dogs requiring sedation for various d iagnostic or therapeutic procedures. All the dogs became deeply sedate d. Heart rate fell by a mean of 55 per cent. Eighteen dogs showed sign s of pain as the combination was injected. Sedation was sufficient for the intended procedure to be carried out in 25 of the dogs. General a naesthesia was induced in four dogs - the mean dose of thiopentone req uired for induction of anaesthesia was 2 mg/kg. Administration of atip amezole at the end of the procedure produced rapid and sudden recoveri es in all the dogs, with a mean time to standing of nine minutes.