Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sedation of hyperthyroid cats using subcutaneous alfaxalone
By Ramoo, S et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2013·Advanced VetCare, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Sedation of hyperthyroid cats with subcutaneous administration of a combination of alfaxalone and butorphanol.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 20 hyperthyroid cats were sedated using a combination of two medications, alfaxalone and butorphanol, given under the skin. The cats were monitored for their sedation levels, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure over 45 minutes. The sedation was effective, allowing for further treatment with minimal resistance from the cats. However, some cats experienced temporary drops in blood pressure and breathing rates, so it's important for pet owners to discuss monitoring with their veterinarian if their cat is undergoing similar sedation.
People also search for: cat hyperthyroid sedation · alfaxalone butorphanol for cats · cat low blood pressure after sedation
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sedative, respiratory and cardiovascular effects of subcutaneously administered alfaxalone and butorphanol in a group of hyperthyroid cats. DESIGN: A prospective, single-centre observational study. METHODS: Client-owned hyperthyroid cats (n=20) were examined and sedated with alfaxalone (3 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) administered subcutaneously. Sedation scores, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure were measured at 15-min intervals during the 45-min observation period and compared with pre-sedation values. At the end of 45 min, cats were assessed to be adequately sedated for oral administration of iodine-131 if there was minimal resistance and an intact gag reflex. RESULTS: The maximum median sedation score was reached 45 min after injection. The lowest mean heart and respiratory rates and blood pressure values occurred 30 min after injection. Significant decreases were noted in respiratory rates at all three time points (P<0.001). Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure measurements were also significantly decreased at 15 and 30 min after injection (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Subcutaneously administered alfaxalone and butorphanol can be used for sedation in cats undergoing procedures of short duration. Blood pressure should be monitored because of transient decreases observed in some cats. Further studies are required to determine whether the sedative, respiratory and cardiovascular effects are similar in euthyroid cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23521097/