Sedative and physiologic effects of orally administered alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists and ketamine in cats

Objective-To compare efficacy of 3 regimens of orally administered sedative s and determine physiologic effects of 1 of these regimens in healthy cats. Design-Prospective randomized study. Animals-34 cats. Procedure-Cats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups that were treated by oral adm inistration of detomidine and ketamine, xylazine and ketamine, or medetomid ine and ketamine. Cars were monitored for degree of sedation at 5-minute in tervals for 60 minutes. Physiologic effects in cats treated with detomidine and ketamine were measured at 5-minute intervals for 30 minutes and compar ed with effects in cars treated IM with detomidine and ketamine or xylazine and ketamine. Results-All cats treated orally with detomidine and ketamine became lateral ly recumbent; sedation was more variable in the other 2 groups treated oral ly. Vomiting and excessive salivation were the only adverse effects. Bradyc ardia (heart rate < 145 beats/min) was detected at each evaluation time in cats treated orally with detomidine and ketamine and in all cars treated IM . Minimal differences among groups were detected for heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, and hemoglobin oxygen saturation. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Oral administration of detomidine and ke tamine is an effective method of sedating healthy cats and induces minimal physiologic effects that are similar to those resulting from IM administrat ion of sedatives.