EFFECTS OF COMBINATIONS OF MEDETOMIDINE PETHIDINE WHEN USED FOR SEDATION AND PREANESTHETIC MEDICATION IN DOGS

Medetomidine, either 5, 10 or 20 mug/kg, was administered together wit h pethidine, 2 mg/kg, by either the intramuscular or subcutaneous rout e to 88 dogs from a clinical population. Administration of all the dru g combinations consistently produced profound sedation in the dogs, ac companied by dramatic reductions in heart rate. The degree of sedation was similar to that seen after 40 mug/kg medetomidine is administered on its own to dogs. Intramuscular administration produced more reliab le sedation, but was associated with more pain than subcutaneous admin istration. In a number of dogs, sedation permitted the completion of v arious diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Several dogs were anaesth etised with thiopentone and the induction doses required were characte ristically low (mean doses between 2 to 3.3 mg/kg depending on the dos e of medetomidine and the route of administration). Administration of atipamezole at the termination of sedation or anaesthesia, produced a rapid and full recovery (mean time to standing between seven and 11 mi nutes).