Sedative and analgesic potentials of dexmedetomidine gluconate using constant rate infusion technique in rabbit

Abstract

Rabbits are easily stressed. Stress can be caused by pain, disease, unfamiliar surroundings, transport, rough handling or proximity of potential predators. Thus, this study was conceived to evaluate the effective sedative and analgesic doses of dexmedetomide gluconate in rabbits using the constant rate infusion (CRI) technique. Eight healthy adult New Zealand White rabbits with an average weight of 1.93 ± 0.33kg were used for the study. They were starved of feed for three hours before the experiment but were supplied water sufficiently. The CRI infusion was prepared by adding 1mcgkg-1 into 500mL bags of lactated ringer's solution. Each rabbit received an initial dose of 20mcgkg-1 dexmedetomidine® intramuscularly at the thigh muscle. Venous access was secured fifteen minutes later and the fluid prepared for CRI was connected to the cannular, the fluid was set to flow at daily fluid maintenance rate of 90mlkgday-1 for one hour. The procedure was repeated replacing 20mcgkg-1 with 40mcgkg-1. Neither sedation nor analgesia was achieved with 20mcgkg-1 dexmedetomidine® while 40mcgkg-1 gave mild to moderate sedation, however, no analgesic effect was observed with the two dose regimes. In conclusion, sedation was achieved with 40mcgkg-1 but no analgesic effect was achieved in both doses used.