Sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of three doses of romifidine in comparison with medetomidine in five cats

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the effects of three doses of romifidine (200, 400 and 600 microg/kg) with medetomidine (80 microg/kg) administered intramuscularly to five cats. The quality of sedation and the cardiovascular and respiratory effects of each treatment were evaluated, and the onset and duration of the sedation, and the cats' recovery times, were measured. Cardiorespiratory variables were also analysed. The dose of 200 microg/kg romifidine was clinically superior to the other doses of romifidine, providing moderate sedation, with minor cardiorespiratory and other adverse effects. However none of the doses of romifidine induced as deep and reliable sedation as the dose of medetomidine.

Anaesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of romifidine/ketamine combinations in cats

“…A significant reduction in the OA times was not observed when the dose of romifidine was increased. The lower α 2 /α 1 specificity of the romifidine in comparison with medetomidine and the erratic effects observed for romifidine in cats (Belda et al. 2008) could explain our findings.…”

“…It has been reported in dogs that increasing the dose of romifidine did not shorten the time to sedation (Lemke 1999). Similarly, the time to sedation was not significantly different in cats, which received romifidine 200, 400 and 600 μg kg −1 (Belda et al. 2008).…”

“…However, the duration of effective clinical sedation was not significantly affected by the dose of romifidine administered to cats (Selmi et al. 2004; Belda et al. 2008).…”

“…2004). Romifidine at 200, 400 and 600 μg kg −1 did not induce a reliable level of sedation and analgesia in comparison with medetomidine at 80 μg kg −1 (Belda et al. 2008).…”

“…The sedative effects of romifidine have been reported in cats (Selmi et al. 2004; Belda et al. 2008).…”