FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Equine veterinary journal2019; 51(6); 825-830; doi: 10.1111/evj.13098

A kinematic comparison of the locomotor pattern of horses sedated with detomidine alone and in combination with low doses of butorphanol.

Abstract: Chemical restraint is often used to perform diagnostic and minor surgical procedures; α2 -adrenoceptor agonists are the most commonly used drugs; however, the combination with an opiate can induce a profound sedation. There is a lack of kinematic studies examining the effects of the combination of these drugs on locomotor patterns. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the duration of the effects of sedation with detomidine and detomidine combined with a low dose of butorphanol on the movement patterns of horses. Methods: The study was a controlled, randomised, blinded and crossover experiment. Methods: Each of six horses was injected intravenously with saline (0.9%) solution (10 mL), detomidine diluted in saline solution (0.01 mg/kg bwt) or a combination of detomidine (0.01 mg/kg bwt) and butorphanol (0.02 mg/kg bwt) diluted in saline solution, in a random order. A single accelerometer positioned at the sacrum was used for gait assessment 15 min before (baseline) and 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 min after each injection. Eight variables were measured, including speed, stride frequency, stride length, regularity, dorsoventral power, propulsive power, mediolateral power and total power; force of acceleration and the three components of power were calculated. The degree of sedation was measured by the ground-to-lip distance. Results: There were significant differences among groups, with shorter effects after the injection of the combination of drugs, for most parameters. Conclusions: A small number of horses were involved in the study. Conclusions: The combination of detomidine and butorphanol produces a shorter effect on almost all accelerometric parameters, probably due to the excitement produced by the opioid drug causing a quicker return to normal values. Accelerometry offers a method of objectively monitoring gait abnormalities in walking sedated horses.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2019-04-29 PubMed ID: 30866108DOI: 10.1111/evj.13098Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study looks at how sedation using detomidine alone and in combination with butorphanol affects the locomotor patterns of horses. It found that using both drugs produces a quicker return to normal movement parameters, possibly due to the excitement engendered by the opioid drug.

Objective of the Study

  • The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the duration of impacts of sedation with detomidine alone and in combination with a small amount of butorphanol on the movement patterns of horses.
  • This was important given the frequent use of these drugs in vet medicine for procedural and diagnostic sedation, and the lack of previous kinematic studies assessing their combined effects on locomotor patterns of horses.

Methods Employed

  • The study was a controlled, randomised, blinded and crossover experiment involving six horses treated with each of the sedatives in a different order.
  • Each horse was injected with either a saline solution, detomidine diluted in saline, or a mix of detomidine and butorphanol diluted in saline.
  • An accelerometer placed at each horse’s sacrum measured gait parameters at several points before and after each injection, and these results calculated into 8 variables such as speed, stride length, and force of acceleration.
  • The level of sedation was assessed by the distance from the ground to the horse’s lip.

Results

  • The results showed significant differences between the groups, with the impacts of the combined drugs wearing off quicker for most parameters measured.
  • The study concluded that the blend of detomidine and butorphanol generated a faster return to typical values for almost all accelerometric parameters, probably due to the excitement effect of the opioid drug.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The authors acknowledged that only a small number of horses were included in the study, which might affect generalisability.
  • However, the study nonetheless provides valuable suggestions about the use of combined detomidine and butorphanol in sedation, and underscores the usefulness of accelerometry in objectively monitoring changes in gaits of sedated horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Frigerio MA, Gómez Cisneros D, Santiago Llorente I, Manso-Díaz G, López-Sanromán J. (2019). A kinematic comparison of the locomotor pattern of horses sedated with detomidine alone and in combination with low doses of butorphanol. Equine Vet J, 51(6), 825-830. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13098

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 6
Pages: 825-830

Researcher Affiliations

Frigerio, M A
  • Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Gómez Cisneros, D
  • Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Santiago Llorente, I
  • Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Manso-Díaz, G
  • Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
López-Sanromán, J
  • Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

MeSH Terms

  • Accelerometry / veterinary
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Butorphanol / administration & dosage
  • Butorphanol / pharmacology
  • Conscious Sedation / veterinary
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Gait / drug effects
  • Horses
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
  • Imidazoles / administration & dosage
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / drug effects

Grant Funding

  • University Complutense of Madrid

References

This article includes 33 references
  1. Johnston GM, Eastment JK, Taylor PM, Wood JL. Is isoflurane safer than halothane in equine anaesthesia? Results from a prospective multicentre randomised controlled trial.. Equine Vet. J. 2004;36:64-71.
  2. Clarke KW, Paton BS. Combined use of detomidine with opiates in the horse.. Equine Vet. J. 1988;20:331-334.
  3. Daunt DA. Detomidine in equine sedation and analgesia.. Compend. Contin. Educ. Vet. 1995;15:1405-1411.
  4. Taylor PM. Chemical restraint of the standing horse.. Equine Vet. J. 1985;17:269-273.
  5. Clarke KW, Taylor PM. Detomidine, a new sedative for horses.. Equine Vet. J. 1986;18:366-370.
  6. England GC, Clarke KW, Goossens L. A comparison of the sedative effects of three alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists (romifidine, detomidine and xilazyne) in the horse.. J. Vet. Pharmacol. Ther. 1992;15:194-201.
  7. Hamm D, Turchi P, Jochle W. Sedative and analgesic effects of detomidine and romifidine in horses.. Vet. Rec. 1995;136:324-327.
  8. López-Sanromán J, Holmbak-Petersen R, Varela del Arco M, Del Álamo A, Santiago I. Accelerometric comparison of the locomotor pattern of horses sedated with xylazine hydrochloride, detomidine hydrochloride or romifidine hydrochloride.. Am. J. Vet. Res. 2013;74:828-834.
  9. Stout RC, Priest GT. Clinical experience using butorphanol tartrate for relief of abdominal pain in the horse.. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Equine Colic Research Symposium, University of Georgia. pp 68-70.
  10. Benedetti C, Butler SH. Systemic analgesics.. In: The Management of Pain, Ed: J. J. Bonica, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia. pp 1640-1675.
  11. Knych HK, Casbeer HC, McKemie DS, Arthur RM. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of butorphanol following intravenous administration to the horse.. J. Vet. Pharmacol. Ther. 2013;36:21-30.
  12. Kammerling S, Weckman T, Donahoe J, Tobin T. Dose related effects of the kappa agonist U-50, 488H on behaviour, nociception and autonomic responses in the horse.. Equine Vet. J. 1988;20:114-118.
  13. Nolan AM, Besley W, Reid J, Gray G. The effects of butorphanol on locomotor activity in ponies: a preliminary study.. J. Vet. Pharmacol. Ther. 1994;17:323-326.
  14. Thurmon JC, Benson GJ. Injectable anaesthetics and anaesthetic adjuncts.. Vet. Clin. N. Am.: Equine Pract. 1987;3:15.
  15. Morrison R, Sutton DGM, Ramsoy C, Hunter-Blair N, Carnwath J, Horsfield E, Yam PS. Validity and practical utility of accelerometry for the measurement of in-hand physical activity in horses.. BMC Vet. Res. 2015;11:233.
  16. Burla JB, Ostertag A, Schulze Westerath H, Hillmann E. Gait determination and activity measurement in horses using an accelerometer.. Comput. Electron. Agric. 2014;102:127-133.
  17. Barrey E, Hermelin M, Vaudelin JL, Poirel D, Valette JP. Utilisation of an accelerometric device in equine gait analysis.. Equine Vet. J. 1994;26:7-12.
  18. Barrey E, Evans SE, Evans DL, Curtis RA, Quinton R, Rose R. Locomotion evaluation for racing in thoroughbreds.. Equine Vet. J. 2001;33 Suppl:99-103.
  19. Barrey E. Biomechanics of locomotion in the athletic horses.. In: Equine Exercise Physiology, the Science of Exercise in Athletic Horse, 1st edn., Eds: K.W. Hinchcliff, R.J. Geor and A.J. Kaneps, Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia. pp 143-168.
  20. López-Sanromán J, Gómez D, Varela del Arco M, Santiago I, Santos M. The use of low doses of acepromazine as an aid for lameness diagnosis in horses: an accelerometric evaluation.. Vet. Comp. Orthop. Traumatol. 2015;28:312-317.
  21. Barrey E, Auvinet B, Couroucé A. Gait evaluation of race trotters using an accelerometric device in equine gait analysis.. Equine Vet. J. 1995;27:156-160.
  22. Taintor J, DeGraves F, Schumacher J. Effect of tranquilization or sedation on the gait of lame horses.. J. Equine. Vet. Sci. 2016;43:97-100.
  23. Rettig MJ, Leelamankong P, Rungsri P, Lischer CJ. Effect of sedation on fore- and hindlimb lameness evaluation using body-mounted inertial sensors.. Equine Vet. J. 2016;48:156-1.
  24. López-Sanromán J, Holmbak-Petersen R, Santiago I, Gómez de Segura IA, Barrey E. Gait analysis using 3D accelerometry in horses sedated with xylazine.. Vet. J. 2012;193:212-216.
  25. Leleu C, Bariller F, Cotrel C, Barrey E. Reproducibility of a locomotor test for trotter horses.. Vet. J. 2004;168:160-166.
  26. Barthélémy I, Barrey E, Thibaud JL, Uriarte A, Voit T, Blot S, Hogrel JY. Gait analysis using accelerometry in dystrophin-deficient dogs.. Neuromuscul. Disord. 2009;19:788-796.
  27. Auvinet B, Berrut G, Touzard C, Moutel L, Collet N, Chaleil D, Barrey E. Reference data for normal subjects obtained with an accelerometric device.. Gait Posture. 2002;16:124-134.
  28. Paquet JM, Auvinet B, Chaleil D, Barrey E. Analyse des troubles de la marche par une méthode accélérométrique dans la maladie de Parkinson.. Rev. Neurol. 2003;159:786-789.
  29. Weishaupt MA, Hogg HP, Auer JA, Wiestner T. Velocity-depend changes of time, force and spatial parameters in warmblood horses walking and trotting on a treadmill.. Equine Vet. J. 2010;42:530-537.
  30. López-Sanromán J, De la Riva S, Holmbak-Petersen R, Pérez-Nogués M, Forés P, Santos M. An accelerometric measure of the gait pattern in horses after the administration of sublingual detomidine.. Res. Vet. Sci. 2014;97:392-397.
  31. Olsen E, Fouché N, Jordan H, Pfau T, Piercy RJ. Kinematic discrimination of ataxia in horses is facilitated by Blindfolding.. Equine Vet. J. 2017;27:156-160.
  32. Joubert KE, Briggs P, Gerber D, Gottschalk RG. The sedative and analgesic effects of detomidine-butorphanol and detomidine alone in donkeys.. J. S. Afr. Vet. Ass. 1999;70:112-118.
  33. Robertson JT, Muir WW, Sams R. Cardiopulmonary effects of butorphanol tartrate in horses.. Am. J. Vet. Res. 1981;42:41-44.

Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Reinstein RDS, Pozzobon FM, Caye P, Paraguassú AO, Socolhoski BVG, Schiefler OHM, Pozzobon R, Müller DCM, Brun MV. Analysis of dog movement using a single accelerometer in different body positions-a new approach. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1551341.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1551341pubmed: 40370838google scholar: lookup
  2. Izquierdo-Moreno J, de Paz MI, Manso-Díaz G, Villalba-Orero M, López-Sanromán J. Correlation between kinematic parameters, ataxia and ground-to-lip distance in detomidine sedated horses. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):798-805.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14207pubmed: 39140154google scholar: lookup
  3. Ignacio C, Del Mar LM, Marta B, Sina Z, Vicent R, Aloma MF. Comparison of two sedation protocols for long electroretinography in horses using the Koijman electrode. BMC Vet Res 2023 Aug 4;19(1):106.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-023-03654-9pubmed: 37537621google scholar: lookup
  4. López-Sanromán FJ, Montes Freilich G, Gómez-Cisneros D, Izquierdo-Moreno J, Varela Del Arco M, Manso-Díaz G. Morphine with or without Acepromazine in Horses: A Kinematic Evaluation. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 6;12(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12091193pubmed: 35565620google scholar: lookup
  5. Argüelles D, Becero M, Muñoz A, Saitua A, Ramón T, Gascón E, Sánchez de Medina A, Prades M. Accelerometric Changes before and after Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain Compared to a SHAM Procedure. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 5;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122305pubmed: 33291357google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,129 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.