Efficacy and safety ofhigher oral doses ofazaperone toachieve sedation inpigs.

Abstract

The aim ofthis study isto evaluate the possibility ofachieving more effective and prolonged sedation inpigs bythe oral administration ofincreased doses ofazaperone and toevaluate its safety. This was performed through a prospective randomised and double blinded study. A total of32weaned piglets were divided into 4groups (8in each group). GroupA was given 1ml ofsaline orally and served asthe control group. GroupB received azaperone orally ata dose of4mg/kg b.w. GroupC received azaperone orally ata dose of8mg/kg b.w. GroupD was given azaperone orally ata dose of12mg/kg b.w. The response tothe defined stimulus, movement level, degree ofsalivation, body temperature, respiratory frequency, blood plasma azaperone concentration and biochemical variables were included inthe trial. Wefound that byincreasing the dose ofthe orally administered azaperone, the onset ofthe sedation isfaster, the end ofthe sedation starts later and the sedation time islonger. However, the use ofhigher doses oforal azaperone isnot suitable for piglets because the doses negatively affect the respiratory rate, body temperature, some biochemical parameters and cause the immobility ofthe piglets.