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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Effects of acepromazine and xylazine on subjective and objec...
Equine veterinary journal2020; 52(4); 593-600; doi: 10.1111/evj.13225

Effects of acepromazine and xylazine on subjective and objective assessments of forelimb lameness.

Abstract: To facilitate lameness evaluation, sedatives such as xylazine and acepromazine are regularly used in the clinical setting, despite concerns that they may confound lameness assessment. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of low doses of acepromazine and xylazine on subjective and objective lameness assessment. Methods: Randomised, blinded, crossover study. Methods: Six horses with experimentally induced solar pain were evaluated over a 1-hour period after treatment with intravenous xylazine (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg), intravenous acepromazine (0.02 or 0.04 mg/kg), intravenous saline (1 mL) or local analgesia (4 mL 2% mepivacaine administered subcutaneously). Lameness was assessed objectively with inertial sensors and subjectively on a scale from 0 to 5. Lameness assessments were compared with logistic regression analysis to account for the repeated measures and cross-over study design (P < .05). Results: Xylazine (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) or acepromazine (0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg) did not result in significant differences in objective lameness assessment (vector sum) or average subjective lameness grade. Local analgesia was associated with a decrease in subjective lameness grade (OR 0.32 [0.11-0.92], P = .03). Objective measures of lameness (vector sum) were significantly decreased 45 minutes (vector sum 41.8, P = .04) and 60 minutes (vector sum 47.3, P = .03) following local analgesia administration compared with baseline (vector sum 121.4). Conclusions: Extrapolation of the experimental model of moderate lameness used in this study to broad range of clinical lameness situations should be performed carefully. Conclusions: These results support the use of low doses of xylazine or acepromazine to facilitate forelimb lameness evaluation up to 1 hour in duration.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-17 PubMed ID: 31863505DOI: 10.1111/evj.13225Google 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.

This research investigates the effects of two sedatives (acepromazine and xylazine) on both subjective and objective evaluations of lameness in horses. The study found that low doses of these sedatives didn’t significantly alter the assessment of lameness, supporting their use in facilitating lameness evaluations.

Study Objective

  • The objective of the research was to investigate the influence of low doses of two sedatives, xylazine and acepromazine, on the assessment of lameness in horses. There were concerns that these substances might alter lameness evaluations, leading to inaccurate diagnoses.

Methods

  • The researchers worked with six horses that had experimentally induced lameness via solar pain. They applied a randomized, blinded, crossover study design.
  • Various treatments were administered to the horses including intravenous injections of xylazine, acepromazine, saline, or local analgesia. The doses used for both xylazine and acepromazine were either 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg and 0.02 or 0.04 mg/kg respectively.
  • Clinical assessment of lameness was undertaken subjectively on a scale of 0 to 5, and objectively using inertial sensors. The results were then analyzed with logistic regression.

Results

  • Both sedatives did not result in notable alterations in the evaluation of lameness on both subjective and objective measures.
  • Local analgesia administration resulted in a decrease in the subjective lameness grade, as well as a significant decrease in objective measures of lameness 45 to 60 minutes after administration.

Conclusions

  • The researchers cautioned that extrapolation of these results should be done with care, as the experimental model was designed to replicate moderate lameness, which may not reflect the full range of clinical lameness situations.
  • Nonetheless, the results of the study support the use of low doses of xylazine or acepromazine to facilitate evaluations of forelimb lameness in horses, up to a duration of one hour.

Cite This Article

APA
Morgan JM, Ross MW, Levine DG, Stefanovski D, You Y, Robinson MA, Davidson EJ. (2020). Effects of acepromazine and xylazine on subjective and objective assessments of forelimb lameness. Equine Vet J, 52(4), 593-600. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13225

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 4
Pages: 593-600

Researcher Affiliations

Morgan, Jessica M
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Ross, Michael W
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Levine, David G
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Stefanovski, Darko
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
You, Youwen
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.
Robinson, Mary A
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.
Davidson, Elizabeth J
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Acepromazine
  • Animals
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Forelimb
  • Horses
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Lameness, Animal
  • Xylazine

Grant Funding

  • Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture State Horse Racing Commission
  • University of Pennsylvania Equine Research Endowment Grant
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Department of Agriculture

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Valle AP, Brown KA, Reilly P, Ciamillo SA, Davidson EJ, Stefanovski D, Stewart HL, Ortved KF. Effect of video angle on detection of induced front limb lameness in horses. BMC Vet Res 2024 May 3;20(1):172.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04032-9pubmed: 38702691google scholar: lookup
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