Evaluation of the sedative and physiological effects of xylazine, detomidine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in goats

Abstract

Background: Many α2-agonists are commonly used for sedation and analgesia in ruminants. Introduction: The present study aims to compare the sedative and physiological effects of intravenous (IV) administration of xylazine, detomidine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in goats. Methods: Ten healthy goats aged 6 ± 1 months and weighing 15 ± 2 kg were used in experimental, crossover Latin square, randomised and blinded study. Animals were assigned to five IV treatments: control (normal saline); xylazine (100 μg kg−1); detomidine (50 μg kg−1); medetomidine (20 μg kg−1) and dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg−1). The degree of sedation was investigated using a numerical ranking scale of 0–10. Sedation scores were compared at each time using nonparametric (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U) tests. Results: Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), ruminal motility and capillary refill time (CRT) were performed before (baseline) and after drug administration. Animals in α2-adrenergic agonist treatments were sedated at 5–60 min. There were no significant differences among α2-adrenergic agonist treatments at 5–60 min in sedation scores. HR significantly decreased from baseline 5–90 min after α2-adrenergic agonists’ administration. Ruminal motility was decreased in α2-adrenergic agonist treatments at 5, 90 and 120 min and absent at 10–60 min. A significant decrease from baseline in RR was detected between 30 and 90 min after α2-adrenergic agonists’ administration. RT was unchanged in any treatment for 120 min. CRT was less than 2 s at all time points following each treatment. Conclusions: The duration of sedation was up to 60 min after IV administration of xylazine (100 μg kg−1), detomidine (50 μg kg−1), medetomidine (20 μg kg−1) and dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg−1) in goats in this study. No significant differences were detected between xylazine, detomidine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in goats.