Sedative effects of acepromazine in combination with nalbuphine or butorphanol, intramuscularly or intravenously, in healthy cats: a randomized, blinded clinical trial

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery 2021-06, Vol.23 (6), p.540-548
• Main Authors: Costa, Gabriela P, Monteiro, Eduardo R, Marques, Éder J, Beck, Rafael C, Carneiro, Rafael K, da Costa, Fernanda VA, Valle, Stella F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acepromazine; Animals; Butorphanol; Cats; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Nalbuphine; Original; Propofol
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1177/1098612X20962754

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the sedative effects in cats administered acepromazine–nalbuphine and acepromazine–butorphanol, intramuscularly (IM) and intravenously (IV), and the occurrence of adverse cardiorespiratory effects. Methods Forty-six cats were randomly divided into four groups and administered acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) combined with nalbuphine (0.5 mg/kg) or butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg), IV (ACP-NALIV and ACP-BUTIV groups, respectively) or IM (ACP-NALIM and ACP-BUTIM groups, respectively). Sedation scores, ease of intravenous catheter placement (simple descriptive scale [SDS] scores), physiologic variables, venous blood gases and the propofol dose required for anesthetic induction were recorded. Results Mild sedation was observed in all groups approximately 30 mins after treatment administration (timepoint T1, prior to propofol administration). Sedation scores at T1 increased above baseline in all groups (P