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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Sci / Sedative and analgesic effects of intravenous xylazine and t...
Journal of veterinary science2011; 12(3); 281-286; doi: 10.4142/jvs.2011.12.3.281

Sedative and analgesic effects of intravenous xylazine and tramadol on horses.

Abstract: This study was performed to evaluate the sedative and analgesic effects of xylazine (X) and tramadol (T) intravenously (IV) administered to horses. Six thoroughbred saddle horses each received X (1.0 mg/kg), T (2.0 mg/kg), and a combination of XT (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively) IV. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), indirect arterial pressure (IAP), capillary refill time (CRT), sedation, and analgesia (using electrical stimulation and pinprick) were measured before and after drug administration. HR and RR significantly decreased from basal values with X and XT treatments, and significantly increased with T treatment (p < 0.05). RT and IAP also significantly increased with T treatment (p < 0.05). CRT did not change significantly with any treatments. The onset of sedation and analgesia were approximately 5 min after both X and XT treatments; however, the XT combination produced a longer duration of sedation and analgesia than X alone. Two horses in the XT treatment group displayed excited transient behavior within 5 min of drug administration. The results suggest that the XT combination is useful for sedation and analgesia in horses. However, careful monitoring for excited behavior shortly after administration is recommended.
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Publication Date: 2011-09-08 PubMed ID: 21897102PubMed Central: PMC3165158DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2011.12.3.281Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 studied the effects of xylazine and tramadol, administered intravenously, on horses and concluded that a combination of both drugs produces longer sedative and analgesic effects despite inducing temporary excited behavior in a few cases.

Objective of the Research

  • The study sought to understand the sedative and analgesic impacts of two drugs, xylazine and tramadol, administered individually and in combination on horses.

Methodology

  • For this study, six thoroughbred saddle horses were used. Each horse received either xylazine (at a dosage of 1.0 mg/kg), tramadol (at a dosage of 2.0 mg/kg), or a combination of both (1.0 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively) through intravenous (IV) administration.
  • A series of measurements were tracked both before and after the administration of the drugs, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, indirect arterial pressure, capillary refill time, and levels of sedation and analgesia (assessed through electrical stimulation and pinprick).

Findings

  • The heart rate and respiratory rate were observed to decrease significantly from their initial values post administering xylazine and the combination treatment, while these values increased significantly for the tramadol treatment.
  • Also, increases in rectal temperature and indirect arterial pressure were significantly noted in the tramadol treatment group.
  • The capillary refill time, however, did not show any significant changes across all treatments.
  • Both xylazine and the combination treatment began showing sedative and analgesic effects approximately 5 minutes following administration. Nevertheless, the combination treatment resulted in a longer duration of these effects as compared to xylazine alone.
  • Interestingly, two horses that received the combination treatment demonstrated temporary excited behavior within 5 minutes post drug administration.

Conclusions

  • The observations from the study suggest that the combination treatment of xylazine and tramadol is effective for inducing sedation and analgesia in horses.
  • However, due to the potential for sudden excited behavior shortly after administration in some cases, careful monitoring of the horses is advised post administration.

Cite This Article

APA
Seo JP, Son WG, Gang S, Lee I. (2011). Sedative and analgesic effects of intravenous xylazine and tramadol on horses. J Vet Sci, 12(3), 281-286. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2011.12.3.281

Publication

Journal of veterinary science
ISSN: 1976-555X
NlmUniqueID: 100964185
Country: Korea (South)
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 3
Pages: 281-286

Researcher Affiliations

Seo, Jong-Pil
  • Department of Veterinary Surgery/Anesthesiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
Son, Won-Gyun
    Gang, Sujin
      Lee, Inhyung

        MeSH Terms

        • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
        • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
        • Animals
        • Blood Pressure
        • Drug Therapy, Combination
        • Female
        • Heart Rate
        • Horses / physiology
        • Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
        • Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
        • Male
        • Respiratory Rate
        • Tramadol / administration & dosage
        • Tramadol / pharmacology
        • Xylazine / administration & dosage
        • Xylazine / pharmacology

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 9 times.
        1. Won J, Khan ZA, Hong Y. Effects of isoflurane and xylazine on inducing cerebral ischemia by the model of middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice.. Lab Anim Res 2023 Jun 1;39(1):11.
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