Comparison of the sedative effects of morphine, meperidine or fentanyl, in combination with acepromazine, in dogs

• Published in: Ciência rural 2011-08, Vol.41 (8), p.1411-1416
• Main Authors: Gomes, Viviane Horta, Monteiro, Eduardo Raposo, Dias, Raquel Sartori, Oliveira, Renato Leão Sá de, Silva, Marta Fernanda Albuquerque da, Coelho, Karina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agrociencias; AGRONOMY
• ISSN: 1678-4596; 0103-8478; 1678-4596
• DOI: 10.1590/S0103-84782011005000102

This study aimed to compare the sedative effects of morphine, meperidine and fentanyl, in combination with acepromazine (ACP) and their effects on physiologic values in dogs. Six healthy beagle dogs were randomly assigned to four treatments with 7-day washout intervals. In three treatments, ACP (0.05mg kg-1) was administered and 20 minutes later, the dogs received administration of 0.5mg kg-1 of morphine (ACPMOR), 5mg kg-1 of meperidine (ACPMEP) or 5µg kg-1 of fentanyl (ACPFEN). In treatment ACP HD MOR, 0.1mg kg-1 of ACP was administered in combination with 0.5mg kg-1 of morphine. All drugs were administered intravenously. Sedation scores were evaluated by a numeric descriptive scale (NDS: 0-3) and a simple numeric scale (SNS: 0-10). All variables were evaluated for 120 minutes. The administration of ACP caused mild to moderate sedation. Sedation was improved in all treatments after opioid administration, but significant differences were detected only in ACPMOR and ACP HD MOR. More dogs presented intense sedation (NDS=3.0) after administration of morphine (3/6 and 4/6 dogs in ACPMOR and ACP HD MOR versus 1/6 in other treatments). Duration of sedation was longer in ACPMOR and ACP HD MOR. Mild to moderate decreases in blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature were observed in all treatments but decreased HR was observed only in ACPMOR and ACP HD MOR. No significant differences were observed in the aforementioned variables when twice the dose of ACP was used (treatment ACP HD MOR). Under the conditions of this study, administration of morphine, in combination with ACP, results in greater and longer sedation than meperidine and fentanyl. Increasing the dose of ACP, in combination with morphine, does not improve the degree of sedation. All combinations used were considered to be safe for healthy dogs. O presente estudo objetivou comparar o efeito sedativo da morfina, meperidina e fentanil associados à acepromazina (ACP) e seus efeitos sobre as variáveis fisiológicas de cães. Seis cães Beagle hígidos foram aleatoriamente submetidos a quatro tratamentos com intervalo de 7 dias. Em três tratamentos, foi administrada ACP (0,05mg kg-1) e, após 20 minutos, 0,5mg kg-1 de morfina (ACPMOR), 5mg kg-1 de meperidina (ACPMEP) ou 5µg kg-1 de fentanil (ACPFEN). No tratamento ACP DA MOR, a dose de 0,1mg kg-1 de ACP foi associada a 0,5mg kg-1 de morfina. Todos os fármacos foram administrados pela via IV. Escores de sedação foram avaliados pela escala numérica descritiva