Sedative effects of administration through the nares of dexmedetomidine, midazolam, and butorphanol in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus): a preliminary crossover study.
Jul 2026· Journal of Veterinary Medical Science· 0 citations
Medicine
TL;DR
Findings indicate that administration through the nares dexmedetomidine at 0.06 or 0.08 mg/kg combined with midazolam and butorphanol provides deeper, more stable, and reversible sedation and improved control of stress responses in cockatiels and may represent a clinically useful protocol in this species.
Abstract
This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a sedation protocol through the nares combining dexmedetomidine with midazolam and butorphanol in cockatiels. Six adults were enrolled in a randomized, 4 treatment, 4 period crossover trial comparing a control regimen (midazolam 3 mg/kg and butorphanol 3 mg/kg) with three combinations including dexmedetomidine at 0.04, 0.06, or 0.08 mg/kg, administered through the nares. The volume of all treatments was standardized to the volume of the highest dose of dexmedetomidine administered (2 mL/kg) with sterile saline solution. Sedation scores, respiratory rate, heart rate, and cloacal temperature were recorded for 10 min after drug administration and during 15 min of manual restraint, followed by flumazenil and atipamezole via the nares for reversal. All birds completed all treatments; mild sneezing occurred but no clinically relevant respiratory complications were observed. Medium and high dose dexmedetomidine produced higher sedation scores and lower respiratory rate, heart rate, and body temperature during restraint than the control regimen, whereas the control group showed increased respiratory rate, suggesting insufficient suppression of restraint induced stress. In all groups, sedation and physiological variables returned to near baseline values within 15 min after reversal, and no serious adverse events occurred. These findings indicate that administration through the nares dexmedetomidine at 0.06 or 0.08 mg/kg combined with midazolam and butorphanol provides deeper, more stable, and reversible sedation and improved control of stress responses in cockatiels and may represent a clinically useful protocol in this species.
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the sedative, analgesic, cardiorespiratory, and haematological effects of intravenous midazolam-pentazocine (MP) and diazepam-pentazocine (DP) combinations in healthy West African Dwarf (WAD) rams.
Methods: Six healthy male WAD rams (average 14.0 ± 2.0 kg) participated in a randomised crossover trial with a 7-day washout period. Protocol MP involved midazolam (0.6 mg/kg) plus pentazocine (0.5 mg/kg), while Protocol DP used diazepam (0.3 mg/kg) plus pentazocine (0.5 mg/kg).
Results: Both combinations induced rapid, profound sedation and analgesia within 10 minutes, achieving maximum scores of 4/4. Cardiorespiratory parameters, including heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, mean arterial pressure, and oxygen saturation, remained stable for 90 minutes in both groups, with no significant differences except for baseline respiratory rate. Haematological analysis showed no significant changes within or between groups, indicating minimal haematotoxicity. Notably, the MP group recovered significantly faster at 80–90 minutes post-administration, with lower sedation (1.0 ± 0.6 against 1.7 ± 0.8) and analgesia (1.8 ± 0.4 against 2.3 ± 1.0) scores than the DP group.
Conclusion: Both midazolam-pentazocine and diazepam-pentazocine protocols proved safe and effective for short-term sedation in West African Dwarf rams, though midazolam-pentazocine is preferable for quicker recovery, while diazepam-pentazocine suits procedures requiring longer restraint.
Keywords: Midazolam, Diazepam, Pentazocine, West African Dwarf rams, Sedation
F. Bolaji-Alabi, Tomiwa Ojo, Onaopemipo Fabunmi et al.· Journal of Research in Veter...· 0 citations
This study investigated the anesthetic performance and cardiopulmonary effects of ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam and ketamine-dexmedetomidine-midazolam combinations administered by subcutaneous or intraperitoneal routes in gerbils. Thirty-two clinically healthy male gerbils were allocated to four experimental groups according to the anesthetic protocol and route of administration. All protocols produced satisfactory sedation and surgical anesthesia without mortality. Induction was achieved in all animals within a relatively short period, and dexmedetomidine- containing combinations tended to induce anesthesia more rapidly than medetomidine-based protocols. The duration of surgical anesthesia was significantly longer in animals receiving dexmedetomidine, indicating a more prolonged anesthetic effect. Throughout the observation period, significant alterations were recorded in heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and peripheral oxygen saturation. Cardiopulmonary depression was observed in all groups but was more evident in animals receiving dexmedetomidine. Intraperitoneal administration generally resulted in a faster onset of anesthesia and more pronounced physiological effects compared with subcutaneous administration. Although reductions in cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were detected, no life-threatening complications occurred and although oxygen saturation values remained compatible with spontaneous recovery, transient decreases observed in dexmedetomidine-treated animals suggest that oxygen supplementation should be considered during prolonged anesthetic procedures. Recovery tended to occur earlier in medetomidine- treated gerbils, whereas dexmedetomidine produced a longer- lasting anesthetic state. The findings indicate that both anesthetic combinations can be safely used in gerbils under appropriate monitoring conditions. Dexmedetomidine provided a longer and deeper anesthetic effect, while subcutaneous administration offered a more gradual anesthetic profile with less pronounced physiological depression.
Nimet Kılıç, Nuh Kılıç, Burak Baydoğan· Revista Científica de la Fac...· 0 citations
S-ketamine provides superior analgesia and reduces intraoperative opioid requirements without compromising sedation or anxiolysis, suggesting it may be a preferable option in this population of children undergoing tonsillectomy.
Ivana Fajertag, Vlado Janković, Maja Sujica et al.· Serbian Journal of Anesthesi...· 0 citations
This study evaluated the influence of prior gabapentin administration, associated or not with integrative practices, on sedation scores, physiological parameters, and propofol requirement in cats sedated with dexmedetomidine undergoing elective orchiectomy. Forty healthy cats (3.76 ± 0.69 kg) were enrolled (T0) and randomized into four groups (n = 10). GAB group received gabapentin (100 mg administered orally) under standard housing, GAB-GCW group received the same treatment but was housed in a cat ward with integrative practices. Control groups received placebo in a cat ward with integrative practices (GCW) or standard housing (GC). After 120 minutes, all cats received dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg IM). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), temperature and sedation scores were assessed before (T1) and 30 minutes after dexmedetomidine (T2). Propofol induction dose, recovery times and quality were recorded. In T1, GAB-GCW showed higher sedation scores [6 (3-9)] than GAB [3 (2-5)] and GC [3 (1-5)], but not GCW. In T2, GAB [9 (2-12)] and GAB-GCW [7.5 (5-12)] scored higher than GC and GCW. Propofol requirements were lower in GAB (4.2 ± 1.9 mg/kg) than GCW (6.8 ± 1.5 mg/kg) and GC (7.2 ± 2 mg/kg) but not GAB-GCW (5.4 ± 1.7 mg/kg). Gabapentin had no effect on physiological variables or recovery. In conclusion, 100 mg of gabapentin given 120 minutes before handling enhances dexmedetomidine sedation and provides a significant propofol-sparing effect for anesthetic induction in cats, although integrative practices alone appear to have limited impact on these outcomes.
Vitória De Freitas, Vittória Bassi das Neves, Nielle Versteg et al.· Topics in Companion Animal M...· 0 citations
Background: Spinal anesthesia is a very commonly used procedure in modern-day anesthesia practice. Today most of the lower limb surgeries are performed under spinal anesthesia. Midazolam, dexmedetomidine, and fentanyl are common intravenous adjuvants used during anesthesia to allay anxiety and sedation. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine-midazolam versus fentanyl-midazolam in terms of analgesic characteristics, sedation, and adverse effects.
Methods: This is a randomized prospective study that included 35 patients in each group, posted for lower limb orthopedic surgery. Intravenous dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, and midazolam were administered after subarachnoid block. Data for sedation, analgesia, hemodynamic parameters, and adverse effects were recorded.
Results: RR for FM group showed significant intra-group variability in RR across perioperative stages (p<0.05), whereas the DM group maintained greater respiratory stability (p=0.243). HR for DM group exhibited significantly lower intraoperative and postoperative HR compared to FM group (p<0.001), with notable within-group changes, unlike the FM group. MAP for both groups remained stable over time (DM: p= 0.283, FM: p= 0.260), although the FM group had slightly higher values in the postoperative recovery phase. Sedation (RSS): DM produced deeper and more sustained sedation intraoperatively and postoperatively (p<0.001), while FM showed quicker sedation decline. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the DM group (VAS: 3.0 vs. 4.0, p= 0.001), although surgeon satisfaction did not differ notably. Adverse events were rare and comparable, though hypotension was more frequent in the DM group (22.9% vs. 8.6%).
Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine plus midazolam provided superior sedation quality and patient satisfaction, with more stable cardiopulmonary parameters during orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia. Despite a slightly higher rate of hypotension, DM appears to offer a more favorable sedative profile compared to fentanyl plus midazolam.
M. Rahimi, Mohamad Sorani, Afzal Shamsi et al.· Archives of Anesthesia and C...· 0 citations
This study evaluated the anesthetic combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine in free-ranging Phrynops geoffroanus, assessing cardiopulmonary and sedative variables, as well as pharmacological reversal with atipamezole. Twenty-five adult individuals were allocated into two groups: HG (dexmedetomidine 0.1 mg/kg + ketamine 10 mg/kg; n = 13) and LG (dexmedetomidine 0.05 mg/kg + ketamine 10 mg/kg; n = 12). Heart rate, respiratory rate, and cloacal temperature, along with motor and behavioral reflexes and venous blood gas analysis, were evaluated at baseline, during chemical restraint, and throughout recovery. No significant differences were observed between groups at the same time points for heart rate, respiratory rate, or cloacal temperature, indicating physiological stability at both dosages. In the HG group, respiratory rate progressively decreased from baseline (39 ± 13 [12–64]) to 7 ± 12 [0–42] between 35 and 45 min after drug administration, with recovery to 36 ± 10 [17–56] fifteen minutes following atipamezole administration. Reflex assessment demonstrated deeper sedation in the HG group, with significant differences in head tone, limb tone, righting reflex, and palpebral reflex, whereas cloacal reflex and jaw tone did not differ between doses. Pharmacological reversal restored physiological parameters to near-baseline values within 25 min. Venous blood gas analysis revealed mild and transient changes in pH and pCO₂ in both groups, without clinically relevant consequences. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine at doses of 0.1 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg, combined with ketamine (10 mg/kg) and administered at an ambient temperature of 28 °C, is safe for P. geoffroanus. The higher dose was associated with deeper sedation, making it suitable for field procedures and clinical handling.
A. Meznerovvicz, A. Marques, M. Marangoni et al.· Veterinary research communic...· 0 citations