Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The effects of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol sedation on skin reactivity during intradermal testing in healthy dogs were evaluated. The effects of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol were compared to medetomidine, a sedative agent having scientific proof of not interfering with skin test reactivity, in a randomised, double blind, cross over study performed on 8 adult dogs.

The dogs were sedated with medetomidine (Domitor vet.®, 0,01 ml kg-1) intravenously, or dexmedetomidine and butorphanol intramuscularly (Dexdomitor vet.®, 0,01 ml kg-1; Dolorex vet., 0,01 ml kg-1) after which they received intradermal injections of positive control solutions (histamine 0,1 mg ml-1, 0,05 mg ml-1, 0,025 mg ml-1), a negative control solution (0,9 % NaCl) and allergen extract (Dermatophagoides farinae, Cladosporium and Artemisia vulgaris). After a wash out period the trial was repeated with a reversed sedation protocol.

Skin reactivity (wheal size, induration and erythema) and quality of sedation (immobilization, response to stimuli and injections as well as over all working conditions) were evaluated.

The combination of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol provided reliable, good sedation and analgesia without adverse effects. The study indicates that dexmedetomidine and butorphanol do not affect skin reactivity during intradermal testing in healthy dogs. In addition, only minor response to stimuli was noticed with dexmedetomidine and butorphanol and the combination provided immobilization superior to medetomidine sedation, thus better over all working conditions during intradermal testing compared to medetomidine. The study results indicate that dexmedetomidine and butorphanol sedation is very suitable for intradermal testing in dogs.