Evaluation of the effects of commonly used α2-adrenergic receptor agonists alone and in combination with butorphanol tartrate on objective measurements of lameness in horses.
Abstract: To determine the effects of 3 α2-adrenergic receptor agonists (α2-ARAs), alone or in combination with butorphanol tartrate, on objective measurements of lameness in horses. Methods: 17 adult polo horses with naturally occurring forelimb or hind limb lameness (or both). Methods: In a crossover design, each horse received each protocol (saline [0.09% NaCl] solution [2 mL, IV] or xylazine hydrochloride [0.33 mg/kg, IV], detomidine hydrochloride [0.007 mg/kg, IV], or romifidine hydrochloride [0.033 mg/kg, IV] alone or in combination with butorphanol [0.007 mg/kg, IV]) in random order, with a washout period (≥ 7 days) between protocols. Horses were assessed immediately prior to (baseline) and 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 minutes after administration of each protocol for degree of sedation, mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT), and objective lameness measurements. Results: Compared with baseline values, sedation scores and MNTs were significantly higher at all evaluated time points following administration of all sedation protocols except xylazine alone; following administration of xylazine alone, sedation scores and MNTs were significantly higher at ≤ 30 minutes and ≤ 20 minutes, respectively. Significant differences in objective forelimb lameness measurements were noted after administration of the 3 α2-ARA-butorphanol combinations. Most significant differences in objective measurements of hind limb lameness were detected after administration of detomidine or romifidine, alone or in combination with butorphanol. Conclusions: In the study horses, xylazine alone had the least impact on objective lameness measurements. The administration of α2-ARAs, particularly detomidine or romifidine, alone or in combination with butorphanol, resulted in small but significant effects on objective lameness measurements.
Publication Date: 2019-08-27 PubMed ID: 31449445DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.80.9.868Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Veterinary
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the influence of three α-adrenergic receptor agonists, used alone or together with butorphanol tartrate, on the objective assessment of lameness in horses. The results show that xylazine had the least impact on lameness measurements, while detomidine or romifidine, whether used separately or with butorphanol, caused small but noteworthy impacts on the measurements of lameness.
Research Methodology
- The study involved 17 adult polo horses exhibiting natural forelimb or hind limb lameness, or both.
- The research was conducted in a crossover design where each horse went through all protocols which include saline solution, xylazine hydrochloride, detomidine hydrochloride, romifidine hydrochloride, alone or mixed with butorphanol.
- Each protocol was executed in a random sequence with at least a 7 day washout period in between.
Assessments Conducted
- Horses were evaluated immediately prior to the commencement of the experimentation and at 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 minutes after administering each protocol.
- The degree of sedation, the mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT), and lameness measurements were assessed objectively.
Research Findings
- Compared to the baseline values, sedation scores and MNTs were substantially higher at all time points after administering all sedation protocols except for xylazine alone.
- Significant differences in forelimb lameness measurements were recorded when the three α-ARA-butorphanol combinations were administered.
- Most notable differences in hind limb lameness measurements were detected after the administration of either detomidine or romifidine, used alone or with butorphanol.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that xylazine alone had the least impact on objective lameness measurements.
- The administration of α-ARAs, particularly detomidine or romifidine, alone or combined with butorphanol tartrate, resulted in small but significant effects on objective lameness measurements.
Cite This Article
APA
Moorman VJ, Bass L, King MR.
(2019).
Evaluation of the effects of commonly used α2-adrenergic receptor agonists alone and in combination with butorphanol tartrate on objective measurements of lameness in horses.
Am J Vet Res, 80(9), 868-877.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.80.9.868 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage
- Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Butorphanol / therapeutic use
- Cross-Over Studies
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Forelimb / drug effects
- Gait / drug effects
- Horses
- Imidazoles / administration & dosage
- Imidazoles / therapeutic use
- Lameness, Animal / drug therapy
- Male
- Random Allocation
- Xylazine / therapeutic use
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