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Intramuscular alfaxalone with or without buprenorphine or hydromorphone provides sedation with minimal adverse effects in healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a randomized blinded controlled trial
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Intramuscular alfaxalone with or without buprenorphine or hydromorphone provides sedation with minimal adverse effects in healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a randomized blinded controlled trial

Renata S. Costa, Miranda Ciotti-McClallen, Rachel Tilley, Stefanie Perry, Lynn Maki, Darius Starks and Amy B. Stein
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol.261(2), pp.223-228
2023
PMID: 35388473
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Open Access

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Veterinary Sciences
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of alfaxalone administered IM with or without buprenorphine or hydromorphone in healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). ANIMALS 24 male rabbits undergoing elective orchiectomy between August 21, 2021, and November 6, 2021. PROCEDURES In this controlled clinical trial, rabbits were randomly assigned to receive alfaxalone (4 mg/kg, IM) alone (group A; n = 8) or with buprenorphine (0.03 mg/kg, IM; group BA; 8) or hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg, IM; group HA; 8). Vital signs and sedation scores were recorded immediately prior to (T0) and 10 minutes after (T1) treatment. Ease of IV catheter placement and pain scores were also evaluated. All rabbits received ketamine (2.5 mg/kg, IV), midazolam (0.13 mg/kg, IV), and meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg, SC) before orchiectomy but after IM treatments. Results were com-pared across groups with ANOVA or Fisher exact tests and across time with paired t tests. RESULTS Sedation score, median time to recumbency, and ease of catheter placement did not differ among groups. Supra- glottic airway device placement was possible for 1 rabbit in group A, 1 in group BA, and 2 in group HA. Mean respi-ratory rate at T1 versus T0 was significantly decreased for groups BA (63.8 vs 128.6 breaths/min) and HA (66.7 vs 123.2 breaths/min). Mean postoperative pain scores were significantly lower for rabbits in group HA (0.58), com- pared with those in groups A (2.25) and BA (2.06). CLINICAL RELEVANCE All 3 treatments provided reliable sedation; however, alfaxalone (4 mg/kg, IM) combined with hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg, IM) may be a better choice for painful procedures.

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Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.43 Anesthesiology
1.43.1642 Veterinary Anesthesia
Web Of Science research areas
Veterinary Sciences
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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