34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Sedation could be necessary in certain scenarios during lameness examinations in horses. The objective of the present study was to evaluate, using accelerometry, the antagonistic effect of atipamezole in horses sedated with detomidine and romifidine and assess its effect in lameness evaluations.

Methods:

Protocol was approved by the concerned animal care and use committee. Seven treatments were administered in 6 horses and, 20 minutes after treatment, different treatments were administered mimicking reversion (saline, detomidine and saline, detomidine and 0.08 mg/kg  atipamezole, detomidine and 0.16 mg/kg  atipamezole, romifidine and saline, romifidine and 0.08 mg/kg  atipamezole, romifidine and 0.16 mg/kg  atipamezole). The Equimetrix® gait analysis system was used, and accelerometric recordings were obtained prior to the administration of any drug and 35, 45, 55 and 65 minutes after sedative drug administration. Variables included regularity, symmetry and stability. Besides, ataxia and sedation were also evaluated.

Results:

No statistical differences were observed for regularity when comparing all treated groups whit control and baseline values. For symmetry and stability, no differences were observed in romifidine and detomidine groups, but differences (p<0.05) appeared between detomidine and romifidine groups reversed with 0.08 mg/kg. Regarding the possibility of trotting reversed animals, significant differences were observed between atipamezole and saline groups (p>0.0001) but not between romifidine and detomidine groups neither atipamezole doses.

Conclusions:

Atipamezole reversion could be a useful tool in certain cases in which reversion of deep romifidine or detomidine sedation is necessary during lameness exams. A low dose of atipamezole could be used in romifidine sedated animals.