COMPARAÇÃO DOS EFEITOS DA XILAZINA E DA DEXMEDETOMIDINA PELAS VIAS INTRANASAL E INTRAMUSCULAR E AVALIAÇÃO DO EFEITO ANTAGONISTA DO ATIPAMEZOLE EM GATOS

Abstract

Adrenergic alpha 2 agonists are the most commonly used sedatives in veterinary medicine, which induce sedation, analgesia and consistent muscle relaxation that can be reversed by selective antagonists in most species. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of xylazine (1 mg/kg) and dexmedetomidine (40 μg/kg) administered intranasally (IN) and intramuscularly (IM) in 16 healthy domestic cats and to assess the antagonistic effect of atipamezole (0.2 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), rectal temperature (RT), blood glucose and sedation scores were evaluated at baseline (T0) and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after the administration of sedatives. Atipamezole was then administered and the aforementioned parameters were evaluated again. Despite it has easy applicability and being atraumatic, the administration of the drugs through IN administration has triggered stress in the animals. Bradycardia occurred in all groups, being more evident in animals treated with dexmedetomidine and a decrease in SBP more evident in xylazine groups. There was also a decrease in RT and hyperglycemia in all groups. Animals that received IN administration of dexmedetomidine sedated faster than the others, and the dexmedetomidine groups showed markedly greater sedation than the xylazine groups. Xylazine IM administration had greater sedation than when administered via IN. Atipamezole was effective in reversing the cardiorespiratory, glycemic and sedative effects caused by xylazine and dexmedetomidine administered via IN and IM.