Comparative study of epidural xylazine or clonidine in horses.
Abstract: To evaluate the cardiorespiratory and behavioural effects of epidural xylazine (XYL) or clonidine (CLO) in horses. Methods: Blinded, randomized experimental study. Methods: Twelve healthy Arabian yearling horses weighing 117-204 kg were randomly allocated into two groups: XYL (n = 6) and CLO (n = 6). Methods: An epidural catheter was inserted and a facial arterial catheter was placed and the next day the horses were restrained in stocks. Baseline values for heart (HR) and respiratory (RR) rates, arterial pressure and behavioural responses were evaluated before (T0) and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after epidural injection (T10-T120). The horses received 0.2 mg kg(-1) of XYL or 5 microg kg(-1) CLO; adjusted to (3.4 + (body weight in kg x 0.013) mL with saline. Data were analysed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-way anova with repeated measures, and one-way anova followed by a Student-Newman-Keuls test or Fisher's exact test, as necessary. Significance was set at p < or = 0.05. Results: Sedation and ataxia were seen at T10, persisting until T120 in four and three horses, respectively, in XYL and all horses in CLO respectively. Two XYL and one CLO horses became recumbent at T45 and T25 respectively. Penile prolapse occurred in four of five males at T30 and T45, in the XYL and CLO groups, respectively, resolving by T120. Tail relaxation was present from T10 to T120 in all horses in XYL and in four horses in CLO. Head drop was observed from T20 to T60 and from T10 to T120 in XYL and CLO respectively. Respiratory rate decreased significantly only at T45 in the CLO group. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure remained stable. Conclusions: Epidural CLO and XYL produce similar cardiorespiratory and behavioural changes but neither would be safe to use clinically at the doses used in this study.
Publication Date: 2008-02-16 PubMed ID: 18275488DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2007.00357.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study compares the cardiorespiratory and behavioral effects of two drugs — epidural xylazine (XYL) and clonidine (CLO) — when administered to horses. The findings indicate that both medications produce similar effects, but neither is considered safe to use clinically at the tested doses due to associated risks and side-effects.
Objective and Methods
- The research sought to analyze the effects of epidural XYL and CLO in horses. It was conducted as a blinded, randomized study involving twelve healthy Arabian yearling horses randomly distributed between two groups; one was administered XYL (n = 6) and the other received CLO (n = 6).
- An epidural catheter, used for the drug’s administration, and a facial arterial catheter were placed on the horses. Their restraints occurred a day later for the data collection phase.
- Baseline values of heart (HR) and respiratory (RR) rates, arterial pressure, and behavioral responses were observed and recorded prior to the epidural injection (T0) and at several intervals post-injection; specifically after 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes (T10-T120).
- The horses were injected with either 0.2 mg kg(-1) of XYL or 5 microg kg(-1) CLO, adjusted with saline according to the equation (3.4 + body weight in kg x 0.013) mL.
- Data analysis involved the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, and a one-way ANOVA supplemented with a Student-Newman-Keuls test or Fisher’s exact test, as required. Significance was assigned at p <= 0.05.
Key Results
- Adverse effects such as sedation, ataxia (loss of control of body movements), and in some cases, recumbency (lying down) were observed at certain time points in both groups of horses. Penile prolapse occurred in most male horses at certain intervals, resolving by T120.
- Tail relaxation was present in all XYL horses and some CLO horses throughout the observation period. A head drop was observed from T20 to T60 in XYL horses, extending to T120 in CLO-administered horses.
- A significant decrease in respiratory rates happened only at T45 in the CLO group. Meanwhile, there was no significance in changes to heart rates and arterial blood pressures in any group.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that epidural administration of both CLO and XYL triggers similar cardiorespiratory and behavioral changes in horses. However, due to the adverse effects observed, neither drug would be safe for clinical use at the doses administered in this particular study.
Cite This Article
APA
Dória RG, Valadão CA, Duque JC, Farias A, Almeida RM, Netto AC.
(2008).
Comparative study of epidural xylazine or clonidine in horses.
Vet Anaesth Analg, 35(2), 166-172.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2995.2007.00357.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Governador Laudo Natel Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / administration & dosage
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / pharmacology
- Anesthesia, Epidural / veterinary
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal / drug effects
- Clonidine / administration & dosage
- Clonidine / pharmacology
- Double-Blind Method
- Female
- Heart Rate / drug effects
- Horses / physiology
- Injections, Epidural / veterinary
- Male
- Pain Measurement / drug effects
- Pain Measurement / veterinary
- Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control
- Pain, Postoperative / veterinary
- Respiration / drug effects
- Treatment Outcome
- Xylazine / administration & dosage
- Xylazine / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Marzok M, Almubarak AI, Babiker H, Kandeel M, El-Hawari SF, El-Khodery S. Comparative evaluation of sedative and anti-nociceptive effects of epidural romifidine, romifidine-lidocaine, and lidocaine in donkeys (Equus asinus). Front Vet Sci 2022;9:966715.
- Abass M, Ibrahim H, Salci H, Hamed MA. Evaluation of the effect of different sedative doses of dexmedetomidine on the intestinal motility in clinically healthy donkeys (Equus asinus). BMC Vet Res 2022 Jul 14;18(1):274.
- Pohl VH, Carregaro AB, Lopes C, Gehrcke MI, Muller DC, Garlet CD. Epidural anesthesia and postoperatory analgesia with alpha-2 adrenergic agonists and lidocaine for ovariohysterectomy in bitches. Can J Vet Res 2012 Jul;76(3):215-20.
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