Clinical use of a medetomidine-midazolam-butorphanol combination as anesthetic regimen in dogs

A parenteral balanced anesthetic regimen based on the administration of med etomidine, midazolam and butorphanol was used to anesthetize 40 dogs for ov ariectomy, ovario-hysterectomy or castration realised during the clinical t eaching of senior students. Despite the long duration of these surgical pro cedures realised by the students, the quality of sedation, muscle relaxatio n, anesthesia and recovery was subjectively estimated as satisfying to exce llent. However, in this clinical setting, intensity of analgesia was often estimated as insufficient. The administration of this combination induced a bradycardia while arterial pressure was maintained, a decrease in respirat ory rate and an increase in end-tidal CO2, Should this kind of anesthetic r egimen be used, a better analgesia is mandatory.