The pharmacological effects of the anesthetic alfaxalone after intramuscular
administration to dogs |
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| Authors: | Jun TAMURA Tomohito ISHIZUKA Sho FUKUI Norihiko OYAMA Kodai KAWASE Kenjiro MIYOSHI Tadashi SANO Kirby PASLOSKE Kazuto YAMASHITA |
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| Institution: | 1)Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069–8501, Japan;2)Department of Veterinary Nursing Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069–8501, Japan;3)Jurox Pty Ltd., Rutherford, NSW 2320, Australia |
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| Abstract: | The pharmacological effects of the anesthetic alfaxalone were evaluated after
intramuscular (IM) administration to 6 healthy beagle dogs. The dogs received three IM
doses each of alfaxalone at increasing dose rates of 5 mg/kg (IM5), 7.5 mg/kg (IM7.5) and
10 mg/kg (IM10) every other day. Anesthetic effect was subjectively
evaluated by using an ordinal scoring system to determine the degree of neuro-depression
and the quality of anesthetic induction and recovery from anesthesia. Cardiorespiratory
variables were measured using noninvasive methods. Alfaxalone administered IM produced
dose-dependent neuro-depression and lateral recumbency (i.e., 36 ± 28 min, 87 ± 26 min and
115 ± 29 min after the IM5, IM7.5 and IM10 treatments, respectively). The endotracheal
tube was tolerated in all dogs for 46 ± 20 and 58 ± 21 min after the IM7.5 and IM10
treatments, respectively. It was not possible to place endotracheal tubes in 5 of the
6 dogs after the IM5 treatment. Most cardiorespiratory variables remained
within clinically acceptable ranges, but hypoxemia was observed by pulse oximetry for 5 to
10 min in 2 dogs receiving the IM10 treatment. Dose-dependent decreases in rectal
temperature, respiratory rate and arterial blood pressure also occurred. The quality of
recovery was considered satisfactory in all dogs receiving each treatment; all the dog
exhibited transient muscular tremors and staggering gait. In conclusion, IM alfaxalone
produced a dose-dependent anesthetic effect with relatively mild cardiorespiratory
depression in dogs. However, hypoxemia may occur at higher IM doses of alfaxalone. |
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| Keywords: | alfaxalone anesthetic effect canine intramuscular |
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