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The effect of butorphanol on the incidence of dexmedetomidine-induced emesis in cats.

OBJECTIVE
Τo evaluate the antiemetic effect of butorphanol (BUT) when co-administered with dexmedetomidine (DEX) in cats.


STUDY DESIGN
Double-blind, randomized controlled cross-over experimental study.


ANIMALS
Fourteen purpose-bred healthy Domestic Short Hair cats, seven females and seven males, aged median (range) 14-84 (78) months and weighing 1.7-5.5 (4.0) kg.


METHODS
Each cat received five different treatment protocols intramuscularly (IM): (A) 25 μg kg(-1) DEX; (B) 20 μg kg(-1) DEX and 0.2 mg kg(-1) BUT; (C) 20 μg kg(-1) DEX and 0.1 mg kg(-1) BUT; (D) 25 μg kg(-1) DEX and 0.2 mg kg(-1) BUT; and (E) 20 μg kg(-1) DEX. Episodes of emesis, incidence and severity of nausea, and time to lateral recumbency were recorded for a period of 8 minutes after treatment administration, and the sedation was scored at the end of this period. The Friedman test and the Cochran's Q-test were used to analyse the data. Significance was evaluated at the 5% level.


RESULTS
The proportion of cats that vomited was significantly lower with the treatment protocols that included BUT (B, C and D) compared with the protocols that included only DEX (A and E). The proportion of cats that had nausea was significantly higher with the protocols that included only DEX (A and E) compared with protocols B and D. Time to lateral recumbency (p=0.09) and sedation score (p=0.07) was not statistically different between the treatment protocols.


CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Butorphanol can be used to prevent emesis and reduce the incidence and the severity of nausea caused by DEX in cats. It seems that the combination of BUT and DEX is very useful not only when emesis could result in serious complications, but also to provide comfort and well-being in cats sedated for minor procedures.