EVALUATION OF SEDATIVE AND ANALGESIC PROPERTIES OF DETOMIDINE IN CATTLE

Detomidine hydrochloride is relatively a new sedative and has shown go od results at low doses in horses (Clarke and Taylor, 1986). Margin of safety appears to be high. Vainio (1985) evaluated detomidine in adul t cattle at dose range of 30 to 150 mug i.m. and reported adequate sed ation and analgesia. The required dose for cattle has been reported to be in the range of 30 to 60 mug/kg (Alitalo, 1986). In the present re port, the sedative and analgesic properties of detomidine in cattle in the dose range of 5 to 40 mug using both i.m and i.v routes have been evaluated. Effects of the drug on haematology and certain blood bioch emical constituents were also studied.