Effect of xylazine, detomidine, and a combination of xylazine and butorphanol on equine duodenal motility.
Abstract: To evaluate the effect on equine duodenal motility of some analgesic agents commonly used to treat colic. Methods: 4 healthy adult healthy horses--2 mares and 2 geldings--which were carrying an indwelling gastric cannula made of silastic rubber. One horse also carried 2 long-term indwelling bipolar electrodes that had been sutured onto the duodenum and jejunum. Methods: To ensure an empty stomach, solid food was withheld from horses for around 20 hours prior to an experiment. Using videoendoscopic guidance, an 8-F catheter with 3 small, discrete pressure sensors was passed through the gastric cannula and directed into the proximal portion of the duodenum. Deflection of the recording pen, to which the catheter was attached, indicated a motile event in that section. Drugs (treatment) were given into the jugular vein in a randomized block design, 1 treatment/experiment, after a 1-hour baseline recording. Treatments were: 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl, xylazine (XYL, 0.5 mg/kg of body weight), detomidine (DET, 0.0125 mg/kg), or a xylazine/butorphanol combination (XYB, 0.5/0.05 mg/kg). Each horse received each treatment twice. All positive pressure peaks > 5 mm of Hg recorded from the most proximal sensor on the catheter were counted in 15-minute blocks. Each mean 15-minute posttreatment value was compared with the baseline value for that specific treatment. Results: There was no significant difference between baseline values. All treatments significantly (P < 0.05) reduced frequency of pressure peaks below their respective pretreatment values, but to variable degrees and durations. Comparatively, XYL had the least effect, with mild, though significant, reduction for only the first 30 posttreatment minutes; DET and XYB caused a significant marked reduction for 1 hour after treatment. Conclusions: The profound suppressive effect of a routine dose of detomidine or xylazine/butorphanol combination on equine duodenal motility must be considered when using these agents for management of colic, especially when encouragement of intestinal motility is desirable.
Publication Date: 1998-05-16 PubMed ID: 9582967
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigated the impacts of analgesic drugs xylazine, detomidine, and a combination of xylazine and butorphanol, used commonly for colic treatment, on the duodenal motility in horses, revealing significant reductions in duodenal motility.
Study Design and Methodology
- The study was performed on four healthy adult horses (two mares and two geldings), each equipped with a silastic rubber indwelling gastric cannula. One horse also had bipole electrodes sutured onto the duodenum and jejunum for precise recording.
- To ensure the accuracy of results, horses were withheld from solid food for 20 hours before experimentation. A catheter with three pressure sensors was inserted through the gastric cannula and into the duodenum. The deflection of the recording pen connected to the catheter indicated motile events in the duodenal section.
- Each horse underwent four types of treatment, injected via the jugular vein: a 2 ml dose of saline (0.9% NaCl), xylazine (0.5 mg/kg body weight), detomidine (0.0125 mg/kg), and a xylazine/butorphanol combination (0.5/0.05 mg/kg). Every treatment was given twice in a randomized block design, each followed by an hour of baseline recording.
Measurement and Results
- The experiment calculated duodenal motility by counting the number of positive pressure peaks over 5mm of Hg, registered from the most proximal sensor on the catheter, within 15-minute intervals. The mean value of such counts 15-minutes posttreatment was compared to the baseline.
- There were no significant differences amongst baseline values. However, all treatments statistically reduced the frequency of pressure peaks from their respective pretreatment values but to varying degrees and durations.
- Xylazine gave the mildest effect, with a slight but significant reduction in the first 30 minutes post-treatment. The detomidine and xylazine-butorphanol combination, in contrast, caused a significant reduction for an hour post-treatment.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that detomidine and the xylazine-butorphanol combination profoundly suppress equine duodenal motility. These agents, thus, must be carefully considered when treating horse colic, especially if promoting intestinal activity is desirable.
Cite This Article
APA
Merritt AM, Burrow JA, Hartless CS.
(1998).
Effect of xylazine, detomidine, and a combination of xylazine and butorphanol on equine duodenal motility.
Am J Vet Res, 59(5), 619-623.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
- Animals
- Butorphanol / pharmacology
- Drug Combinations
- Duodenum / physiology
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Motility / drug effects
- Horses / physiology
- Imidazoles / pharmacology
- Male
- Pressure
- Xylazine / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Verhaar N, Hoppe S, Grages AM, Hansen K, Neudeck S, Kästner S, Mazzuoli-Weber G. Dexmedetomidine Has Differential Effects on the Contractility of Equine Jejunal Smooth Muscle Layers In Vitro.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 10;13(6).
- 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.
- Troya-Portillo L, López-Sanromán J, Villalba-Orero M, Santiago-Llorente I. Cardiorespiratory, Sedative and Antinociceptive Effects of a Medetomidine Constant Rate Infusion with Morphine, Ketamine or Both.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 13;11(7).
- Munsterman AS, Dias Moreira AS, Marqués FJ. Evaluation of a Chinese herbal supplement on equine squamous gastric disease and gastric fluid pH in mares.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2280-2285.
- Arroyo LG, Costa MC, Guest BB, Plattner BL, Lillie BN, Weese JS. Duodenitis-Proximal Jejunitis in Horses After Experimental Administration of Clostridium difficile Toxins.. J Vet Intern Med 2017 Jan;31(1):158-163.
- Elfenbein JR, Robertson SA, MacKay RJ, KuKanich B, Sanchez L. Systemic and anti-nociceptive effects of prolonged lidocaine, ketamine, and butorphanol infusions alone and in combination in healthy horses.. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S6.
- Abraham M, Reef VB, Sweeney RW, Navas de Solís C. Gastrointestinal ultrasonography of normal Standardbred neonates and frequency of asymptomatic intussusceptions.. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Sep-Oct;28(5):1580-6.
- Koenig J, Cote N. Equine gastrointestinal motility--ileus and pharmacological modification.. Can Vet J 2006 Jun;47(6):551-9.
- Mitchell CF, Malone ED, Sage AM, Niksich K. Evaluation of gastrointestinal activity patterns in healthy horses using B mode and Doppler ultrasonography.. Can Vet J 2005 Feb;46(2):134-40.
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