Some effects of multiple administration of detomidine during the last trimester of equine pregnancy.
Abstract: Detomidine was given to 11 pregnant mares at 3 week intervals during the last trimester of pregnancy. Maternal and fetal electrocardiographs were recorded and fetal activity studied by transabdominal ultrasonography, before and 2 h (2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) after injection. After parturition, the foals were examined and weighed. Maternal and fetal heart rate showed an initial decline after detomidine administration. Maternal heart rate in the treatment group were lower already 2 min after injection, but a reduction in fetal heart was first seen 5 min after detomidine administration. Mean fetal heart rate at 2 min after detomidine injection was 109, 104, 95 and 90 beats/min, whereas at 5 min it was 80, 76, 72 and 66 beats/min in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th examination session, respectively. The heart rates did not revert to the control values during follow-up. Decline and recovery patterns were quite similar during all examination sessions. The mares exhibited conductive disturbances 2 min after detomidine administration, but fetal heart rhythm remained regular. Fetal activity was decreased at 5 min but had reverted to control values about 90 min after detomidine administration. Administration of detomidine (0.015 mg/kg) to healthy pregnant mares at 3 week intervals during the last trimester had no measurable detrimental effects on the outcome of pregnancy.
Publication Date: 1997-11-05 PubMed ID: 9306069DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03147.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Clinical Trial
- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the repeated use of detomidine, a sedative, during the last trimester of horse pregnancy. The study monitored maternal and fetal heart rates, fetal activity, and the physical health of the newborn foals, concluding that administered detomidine produced no measurable negative effects on pregnancy outcomes.
Experimental Design
- The experimental design involved the administration of detomidine to 11 pregnant mares (female horses) at 3-week intervals during the third trimester of their pregnancies.
- Examinations were conducted before and after the injection of detomidine. The post-injection examinations were carried out at specific time intervals: 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes.
- Maternal and fetal heart rates were tracked through electrocardiograms. Fetal activity was assessed using transabdominal ultrasonography.
- The foals (baby horses) were weighed and examined after birth.
Findings on Heart Rate
- Both maternal and fetal heart rates showed an initial decline following detomidine administration.
- For the mares, their heart rate decreased within just 2 minutes of the injection. However, it took 5 minutes for the injection to affect the fetal heart rate.
- The heart rates did not return to the control values over the course of the follow-up period.
- However, despite the rapid decrease in heart rates, neither the mares nor the foals exhibited irregular heart rhythms.
Observations on Fetal Activity
- The study observed a decrease in fetal activity 5 minutes post-administration of detomidine.
- However, the fetal activity returned to control values approximately 90 minutes following the administration of the sedative.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that the administration of detomidine at doses of 0.015 mg/kg to healthy pregnant mares every 3 weeks during the last trimester did not have harmful effects on the outcome of the pregnancy. This implies that the health and weight of the newborn foals were within normal parameters, despite the maternal and fetal heart rate changes and the temporary decrease in fetal activity.
Cite This Article
APA
Luukkanen L, Katila T, Koskinen E.
(1997).
Some effects of multiple administration of detomidine during the last trimester of equine pregnancy.
Equine Vet J, 29(5), 400-402.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03147.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Finland.
MeSH Terms
- Analgesics / administration & dosage
- Analgesics / pharmacology
- Animals
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Electrocardiography / methods
- Electrocardiography / veterinary
- Female
- Fetal Distress / diagnosis
- Fetal Distress / physiopathology
- Fetal Distress / veterinary
- Fetal Movement / drug effects
- Fetal Movement / physiology
- Heart Rate / drug effects
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Heart Rate, Fetal / drug effects
- Heart Rate, Fetal / physiology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / embryology
- Horses / physiology
- Imidazoles / administration & dosage
- Imidazoles / pharmacology
- Injections, Intravenous / methods
- Injections, Intravenous / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Outcome
- Pregnancy, Animal / drug effects
- Pregnancy, Animal / physiology
- Time Factors
- Ultrasonography, Prenatal / methods
- Ultrasonography, Prenatal / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Gao Y, Hannan MA, Murata K, Rajabi-Toustani R, Nambo Y. Ultrasonographic examination of equine fetal growth parameters throughout gestation in pony for Equine-Assisted Therapy. J Vet Med Sci 2022 Jan 7;84(1):74-81.
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