Sedative effects of two doses of alfaxalone in combination with methadone and a low dose of dexmedetomidine in healthy Beagles

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the sedative effects of two doses of alfaxalone when added to a combination of dexmedetomidine and methadone injected intramuscularly (IM) in healthy Beagles.

Study design: Randomized, blinded, crossover, experimental study.

Animals: A group of six adult Beagles.

Methods: Dogs were sedated on three different occasions with IM dexmedetomidine (3 μg kg^-1) and methadone (0.3 mg kg^-1) combined with two doses of alfaxalone (0.5 and 1 mg kg^-1; A0.5 and A1, respectively) or saline (A0). Quality of sedation, response to tail clamping and rectal temperature were recorded at baseline, 5, 15, 25, 35 and 45 minutes. Pulse and respiratory rates, oxygen saturation of haemoglobin (SpO₂) and noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) were recorded every 5 minutes. Onset of sedation and duration of recumbency, response to venous catheterization and recovery quality were assessed. Physiological variables (analysis of variance) were analysed between treatments and within treatments compared with baseline (Student t test). Nonparametric data were analysed using Friedman and Cochran's Q tests. Significance was p < 0.05.

Results: Sedation scores were significantly higher when alfaxalone was co-administered (area under the curve; p = 0.024, A0.5; p = 0.019, A1), with no differences between doses. Onset of sedation was similar, but duration of recumbency was longer in A0.5 than in A0 [median (minimum-maximum), 43 (35-54) versus 30 (20-47) minutes, p = 0.018], but not in A1. Response to venous catheterization and tail clamping, and quality of recovery (acceptable) presented no differences between treatments. A decrease in all physiological variables (compared with baseline) was observed, except for NIBP, with no differences between treatments. All dogs required oxygen supplementation due to reduced SpO₂.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Adding alfaxalone to methadone and dexmedetomidine enhanced sedation and duration of recumbency. Although cardiopulmonary depression was limited, oxygen supplementation is advisable.

Keywords: alfaxalone; dexmedetomidine; dog; methadone; sedation.