EFFECT OF ROMIFIDINE AND ROMIFIDINE-BUTORPHANOL FOR SEDATION IN DOGS

The sedative and physiological effects of intravenous romifidine at 12 0 mu g/kg were compared with intravenous romifidine (120 mu g/kg) foll owed immediately by intravenous butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg) in 18 clinical ly normal adult beagles in a blinded randomised change-over study. Fol lowing the injection of romifidine alone the dogs became recumbent and there was an increase in a subjective score awarded to the degree of sedation. Heart rate and respiratory rate decreased and minor bradyarr hythmias were noted. The romifidine-butorphanol combination produced a significant decrease in the time to the onset of sedation and increas e in the sedative effect and duration of action compared with rosnifid ine alone. With the exception of a further decrease in heart rate and respiratory rate, there were no additional side effects following the use of the romifidine-butorphanol combination. The marked sedative eff ect associated with this combination would appear to be useful in the clinical situation where an increased degree of sedation is required.