ObjectiveTo compare the sedative and physiological effects of intranasal (IN) and intramuscular (IM) delivery of detomidine in calves. Study designProspective, randomized experimental study. AnimalsA total of 20 healthy calves, aged 15.6 ± 4.2 days old, with body masses ranging from 40 to 60 kg. MethodsCalves were randomly assigned to be given detomidine (0.03 mg kg−1) by either IN or IM routes. The onset of sedation, duration of sedation and sedation score (SS) were recorded. Heart rate (HR), peripheral arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2), noninvasive systolic and diastolic arterial pressures (SAP and DAP, respectively), respiratory rate (fR), and rectal temperature (RT) were measured immediately before drug delivery (baseline), at 10 (T10), 15 (T15), 20 (T20), and 30 (T30) minutes after drug delivery. Calves underwent disbudding at T25. Comparisons between treatments for physiological variables were performed with an independent t test. Duration of sedation and SS were assessed with a Mann-Whitney test. ResultsOnset of sedation was 6.8 ± 2.3 (mean ± SD) and 14.1 ± 6.6 minutes in treatments IM and IN, respectively (p = 0.005). Duration of sedation was 32.5 (26–65) [median (range)] and 33 (26–52) minutes in treatments IM and IN, respectively (p = 0.622). SS was significantly higher in the IM group than the IN group at T15 (p = 0.015) and T20 (p = 0.039). HR was significantly higher with IN than IM at T20 (p = 0.022). RT was significantly lower in IN than IM at T30 (p = 0.020). fR, SpO2, SAP, and DAP did not differ significantly between treatments. Conclusions and clinical relevanceIN delivery of detomidine resulted in a slower onset of sedation compared to IM injection, although the duration of sedation did not differ between the two treatments.