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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Nociceptive thermal threshold testing in horses – effe...
BMC veterinary research2013; 9; 135; doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-135

Nociceptive thermal threshold testing in horses – effect of neuroleptic sedation and neuroleptanalgesia at different stimulation sites.

Abstract: Aim of the study was to compare the effect of neuroleptic sedation with acepromazine and neuroleptanalgesia with acepromazine and buprenorphine on thermal thresholds (TT) obtained at the nostrils and at the withers. The study was carried out as a randomized, blinded, controlled trial with cross-over design. Thermal thresholds were determined by incremental contact heat applied to the skin above the nostril (N) or the withers (W). Eleven horses were treated with saline (S), acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) (ACE) or acepromazine and buprenorphine (0.0075 mg/kg) (AB) intravenously (IV). Single stimulations were performed 15 minutes prior and 15, 45, 75, 105, 165, 225, 285, 405 and 525 minutes after treatment. Sedation score, gastrointestinal auscultation score and occurrence of skin lesions were recorded. Data were analysed with analysis of variance for repeated measurements. Results: There were no significant differences in TT between N and W with all treatments. The TT remained constant after S and there was no difference in TT between S and ACE. After AB there was a significant increase above baseline in TT until 405 minutes after treatment. Restlessness occurred 30-90 minutes after AB in 7 horses. All horses had reduced to absent borborygmi after AB administration for 165 to 495 minutes. Conclusions: Thermal stimulation at both described body areas gives comparable results in the assessment of cutaneous anti-nociception in horses. There is no differential influence of neuroleptic sedation or neuroleptanalgesia on TTs obtained at N or W. Buprenorphine combined with acepromazine has a long lasting anti-nociceptive effect associated with the typical opioid induced side effects in horses.
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Publication Date: 2013-07-09 PubMed ID: 23837730PubMed Central: PMC3708779DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-135Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

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 research article investigates how neuroleptic sedation and neuroleptanalgesia at various stimulation sites influence nociceptive thermal thresholds in horses and finds that both body areas show comparable results in testing cutaneous anti-nociception, with no differential impact from either treatments. However, acepromazine and buprenorphine combination led to a significant and long-lasting reduction in pain sensation with some typical opioid-induced side effects.

Research Methodology

  • The study was conducted as a randomized, blinded, controlled trial with a cross-over design, implying that the same subjects were used in different experimental conditions, thus ensuring minimal bias.
  • The research involved eleven horses that were treated with saline, acepromazine, or a combination of acepromazine and buprenorphine, administered intravenously. The thermal thresholds at two body locations, nostrils and withers, were measured by applying increasing contact heat to the skin.
  • Observations were made prior to treatment and at several time intervals post-treatment, ranging from 15 minutes to 525 minutes. Additionally, scores for sedation and gastrointestinal auscultation were recorded, and the occurrence of any skin lesions was also noted.

Research Findings

  • There were no significant differences in thermal thresholds (TT) at the nostrils and withers, irrespective of the type of treatment administered. This suggests that both areas give comparable results when assessing cutaneous anti-nociception (pain relief) in horses.
  • The TT did not change after saline administration, and there was no difference in TT between saline and acepromazine, affirming that acepromazine alone did not influence the TT.
  • However, the TT significantly increased above baseline until 405 minutes after treatment with a combination of acepromazine and buprenorphine. This indicates that this drug combination has a long-lasting anti-nociceptive effect, effectively reducing pain sensation in tested horses.
  • However, the combination treatment also caused typical opioid side effects, such as restlessness in several horses within 30-90 minutes and reduced to absent borborygmi (stomach noises) for a period ranging from 165 to 495 minutes post-treatment.

Research Conclusions

  • The study concludes that thermal stimulation at both nostrils and withers gives similar results in the assessment of cutaneous anti-nociception in horses. Hence, there is no requirement for differential treatment depending on these body areas.
  • Moreover, the combination of acepromazine and buprenorphine has a long-lasting anti-nociceptive effect but may lead to opioid-induced side effects in horses. Therefore, this should be taken into consideration when utilizing this treatment regime for pain management in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Poller C, Hopster K, Rohn K, Kästner SB. (2013). Nociceptive thermal threshold testing in horses – effect of neuroleptic sedation and neuroleptanalgesia at different stimulation sites. BMC Vet Res, 9, 135. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-135

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 135

Researcher Affiliations

Poller, Christin
    Hopster, Klaus
      Rohn, Karl
        Kästner, Sabine B R

          MeSH Terms

          • Acepromazine / administration & dosage
          • Acepromazine / pharmacokinetics
          • Animals
          • Area Under Curve
          • Buprenorphine / administration & dosage
          • Buprenorphine / pharmacokinetics
          • Conscious Sedation / veterinary
          • Cross-Over Studies
          • Double-Blind Method
          • Drug Therapy, Combination / veterinary
          • Female
          • Half-Life
          • Horses / metabolism
          • Hot Temperature / adverse effects
          • Male
          • Neuroleptanalgesia / veterinary
          • Nociception / drug effects
          • Nociception / physiology

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 6 times.
          1. Knych HK, Stucker K, Gretler SR, Kass PH, McKemie DS. Pharmacokinetics, adverse effects and effects on thermal nociception following administration of three doses of codeine to horses.. BMC Vet Res 2022 May 25;18(1):196.
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          2. 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
          3. Emanuel D, Kästner SBR, Delarocque J, Grob AJ, Bienert-Zeit A. Influence of Butorphanol, Buprenorphine and Levomethadone on Sedation Quality and Postoperative Analgesia in Horses Undergoing Cheek Tooth Extraction.. Vet Sci 2022 Apr 6;9(4).
            doi: 10.3390/vetsci9040174pubmed: 35448672google scholar: lookup
          4. de Oliveira AR, Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK, Schauvliege S, Fonseca MW, Trindade PHE, Puoli Filho JNP, Luna SPL. Development, Validation, and Reliability of a Sedation Scale in Horses (EquiSed).. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:611729.
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          5. Hamamoto-Hardman BD, Steffey EP, McKemie DS, Kass PH, Knych HK. Meperidine pharmacokinetics and effects on physiologic parameters and thermal threshold following intravenous administration of three doses to horses.. BMC Vet Res 2020 Oct 1;16(1):368.
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          6. Yavari S, Khraim N, Szura G, Starke A, Engelke E, Pfarrer C, Hopster K, Schmicke M, Kehler W, Heppelmann M, Kästner SBR, Rehage J. Evaluation of intravenous regional anaesthesia and four-point nerve block efficacy in the distal hind limb of dairy cows.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Nov 7;13(1):320.
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