EVALUATION OF SEDATIVE AND CARDIORESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF DIAZEPAM-BUTORPHANOL, ACEPROMAZINE-BUTORPHANOL, AND XYLAZINE-BUTORPHANOL IN FERRETS

Ten ferrets were used in a crossover Study to determine the sedative e ffects of intramuscularly (IM) administered diazepam (3 mg/kg body wei ght)-butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg body weight), acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg body weight)-butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg body weight), or xylazine (2.0 mg/kg b ody weight)-butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg body weight). All ferrets became la terally recumbent following the administration of each drug combinatio n. The xylazine-butorphanol combination caused a significantly longer (p less than 0.05) duration of analgesia than the diazepam-butorphanol and acepromazine-butorphanol combinations. None of the ferrets could be intubated with any of the drug combinations. The time from inductio n to recovery was significantly shorter in the acepromazine-butorphano l-treated ferrets. A significantly lower heart rate was observed in th e xylazine-butorphanol-treated ferrets; however, an acceptable systoli c blood pressure was maintained. Ventilatory function was more depress ed in the diazepam-butorphanol- and xylazine-butorphanol-treated ferre ts than in the acepromazine-butorphanol-treated ferrets. Xylazine-buto rphanol was found to be the best combination for use in ferrets.