Comparison of ketamine and alfaxalone for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in ponies undergoing castration

The effects of midazolam and butorphanol, administered alone or combined, on the dose and quality of anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in goats

“…The observed alfaxalone induction doses (1.75 mg/kg -3.00 mg/kg) are similar to those reported in earlier studies in other species such as: sheep Torres et al 2012); dogs (Maddern et al 2010;Suarez et al 2012); and ponies (Klöppel & Leece 2011;Leece et al 2009), but lower than doses reported in cats (Martinez Taboada & Murison 2010;Mathis et al 2012). The reason for the lack of agreement in alfaxalone dose could be the difference in the rate at which alfaxalone was administered.…”

“…In goats, induction of general anaesthesia can be achieved by administration of ketamine, propofol or thiopentone (Dzikiti 2013;Prassinos et al 2005). Recently, alfaxalone has been shown to be an alternative induction agent in: dogs (Ferré et al 2006;Muir et al 2008;Suarez et al 2012); cats ; sheep ); ponies (Klöppel & Leece 2011;Leece et al 2009); and horses (Goodwin et al 2011). However, its efficacy as an induction agent in goats has not yet been reported.…”

“…Its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles make it ideal for intravenous induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia in dogs (Ambrisko et al 2011;Ambros et al 2008;Ferré et al 2006;Jiménez et al 2012;Maddern et al 2010;Michou et al 2012;Muir et al 2008;Psatha et al 2011;Rodríguez et al 2012;Suarez et al 2012). Alfaxalone has been reported to be a suitable anaesthetic-induction agent at a dose of 2.00 mg/kg in unsedated sheep , Torres et al 2012, sedated dogs (Maddern et al 2009;Suarez et al 2012) and ponies (Klöppel & Leece 2011;Leece et al 2010 To the knowledge of the authors, there are currently no scientific reports on the effects of commonly used sedatives on the induction dose of alfaxalone in goats, as well as the impact of these agents on the quality of general anaesthesia arising from their use. The present study tested the null hypothesis that midazolam, alone or combined with butorphanol, does not affect the induction dose of alfaxalone versus the alternative hypothesis that midazolam and butorphanol affect the alfaxalone induction dose in goats.…”

Buprenorphine provides better anaesthetic conditions than butorphanol for field castration in ponies: results of a randomised clinical trial

“…However, each time rescue is required, surgery is interrupted until the effect of the rescue drug develops, and the apparently longer BUT surgery time may simply be further reflection of the better surgical conditions in the BUP group. A need for additional doses of anaesthetic agent has often been reported in studies of field castration in ponies, even when a higher dose of butorphanol (50 μg/kg) was given (Corletto and others 2005, Leece and others 2009, Sanz and others 2009, Kloppel and Leece 2011), and the current study is no exception. It is surprising, however, that Corletto and others (2005) reported poorer anaesthetic quality after morphine (100 μg/kg) than butorphanol, whereas in the present study more anaesthetic was required after butorphanol than after buprenorphine.…”

“…However, μ-opioid receptor agonists are considered the best analgesics, and butorphanol is usually regarded as less effective in treating moderate to severe pain (Muir 1981, Wagner 1999). Although butorphanol has been shown to be a suitable opioid for horses undergoing castration (Corletto and others 2005, Leece and others 2009, Sanz and others 2009, Kloppel and Leece 2011), a μ-opioid receptor agonist might be more appropriate as the opioid component of preanaesthetic medication before a surgical procedure. The quality of sedation and surgical conditions with morphine, the gold standard μ-opioid receptor agonist, was inferior, although acceptable, to butorphanol; unfortunately postoperative analgesia was not reported (Corletto and others 2005).…”