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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / A kinematic comparison of the locomotor pattern of horses se...
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.
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Publication Date: 2019-04-29 PubMed ID: 30866108DOI: 10.1111/evj.13098Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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

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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
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