Use of sedatives during dental procedures in horses

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of the effect of anesthetics on the cardiorespiratory system of horses. The object of the study was 12 horses (6 mares and 6 merenes) without identified pathologies of the respiratory system and cardiovascular system aged 7 to 14 years, weighing from 450 to 550 kg. Before the routine dental examination and treatment of the dental surface with an electric rasp, an intravenous injection of sedatives belonging to the alpha-2 agonist group (xylazine 1 mg/kg or detomidine 10 mkg/kg) was performed. The preanesthetic study included a study of the respiratory system (BHD), body temperature (T), and heart rate (HR). For the study, horses were randomly divided into 2 groups of 6 research objects each. Xylazine (xylazine maleate 2%) at a dosage of 1 mg/kg was administered to animals of the first group as a sedative, while Domosedan (detomidine hydrochloride) at a dosage of 10 mkg/kg was administered to animals of the second group. To determine the effect of anesthetics on the cardiorespiratory system, a study was conducted on the dynamics of BDD, T, and heart rate. Data analysis showed that Xylazine and Domosedan drugs have a similar effect on the cardiorespiratory system of horses. But a more pronounced depression and a longer recovery of physiological parameters are noted with the administration of detomedin hydrochloride at a dosage of 10 mkg / kg than with the use of xylazine maleate 1 mg / kg. However, it was noted that animals from the group in which Xylazine was used reacted more often to strong stimuli (the glow of a lantern, the sound of a running machine, the neighing of other horses, etc.), in some cases excessive activity was noted. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of detomedin hydrochloride is the most preferred drug for dental procedures in horses, as it has a more pronounced depression and a longer recovery of physiological parameters.