Abstract
Objectives
To determine whether epidural administration of detomidine hydrochloride to cattle induced analgesia of the perineum and to compare analgesic and systemic effects of epidural versus IM administration of detomidine at a dose of 40 μg/kg in cattle.
Animals
18 healthy adult cows.
Procedure
6 cows were given detomidine by epidural administration, 6 were given detomidine IM, and 6 (control group) were not given detomidine. Analgesia was assessed by determining responses to needle pinpricks in the perineum and flank and by applying electrical stimuli to the perineum and flank and determining the voltage that induced an avoidance response. Degree of sedation and ataxia were scored, and mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and frequency of ruminal contractions were measured.
Results
Epidural and IM administration of detomidine induced comparable degrees of analgesia of the perineum and flank, accompanied by moderate sedation and ataxia, hypertension, cardiorespiratory depression, and rumen hypomotility.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
Epidural and IM administration of detomidine at a dose of 40 µg/kg induced similar analgesic and systemic effects in cattle. Epidural administration of detomidine did not appear to be advantageous over IM administration. (Am J Vet Res 1999;60:1242–1247)
