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Egyptian fruit bats have gained increasing interest being a natural reservoir for emerging zoonotic viruses. Anaesthesia is often required to allow safe handling of bats. We aimed to compare the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of two balanced anaesthetic protocols in bats undergoing gonadectomy. Group DK (n = 10) received intramuscular dexmedetomidine (40 µg/kg) and ketamine (7 mg/kg), whereas group DBM (n = 10) received intramuscular dexmedetomidine (40 µg/kg), butorphanol (0.3 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.3 mg/kg). Induction time and cardiopulmonary parameters were recorded. If anaesthetic plan was inadequate, isoflurane was titrated-to-effect. At the end of surgery venous blood gas analysis was performed and atipamezole or atipamezole-flumazenil was administered for timed and scored recovery. In DBM group heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation were significantly higher (p = 0.001; p = 0.003 respectively), while respiratory rate was significantly lower (p = 0.001). All bats required isoflurane supplementation with no significant differences between groups. Induction and recovery times showed no significant differences. In group DK a better recovery was scored (p = 0.034). Sodium and chloride were significantly higher in DBM group (p = 0.001; p = 0.002 respectively). Both anaesthetic protocols were comparable and can be recommended for minor procedures in bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the use of a ketamine‐dexmedetomidine combination and mild hypothermia for the treatment of status epilepticus in 3 dogs that did not respond to GABAergic medication. Case Series Summary: Three dogs, each with a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy, were presented to the emergency department in a state of status epilepticus. The dogs were treated unsuccessfully with benzodiazepine as a first‐line therapy that was followed by IV propofol anesthesia maintained for at least 12 hours. When general anesthesia was discontinued, seizures reoccurred. All 3 dogs then received a bolus of ketamine (1 mg/kg, IV) over a period of 5 minutes that was followed by a bolus of dexmedetomidine (3 μg/kg, IV) over the same time period and then followed by a continuous infusion for 12 hours of ketamine at a constant rate of 1 mg/kg/h and dexmedetomidine at a variable rate of 3–7 μg/kg/h. Body temperature was maintained between 36.7 and 37.7°C at a state of mild hypothermia throughout treatment. The dogs recovered uneventfully over 48 hours after treatment was discontinued with no evidence of seizures. No notable alterations in physiological parameters were observed during the drug infusions. All dogs were discharged following examinations that showed normal neurological function. New or Unique Information Provided: This case series highlights the potential benefits of a ketamine‐dexmedetomidine infusion combined with mild hypothermia for the treatment of status epilepticus refractory to GABAergic therapy in dogs suffering from idiopathic epilepsy. After the dogs were weaned from the ketamine‐dexmedetomidine infusion, all dogs experienced complete recovery. Thus, this case series introduces a novel approach to treat this intense condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: During the last decade, new alternative non-invasive administration routes for drug delivery have gained interest in veterinary medicine. The administration of drugs via the oral transmucosal route is non-invasive, painless, easy to perform, and generally well tolerated. Furthermore, it avoids gastric acid degradation typical of oral administration. All these characteristics contribute to make this administration route very attractive, especially for veterinary patients who are difficult to inject, fearful, or anxious. In contrast, intramuscular injection is associated with pain and requires more invasive restraint, potentially incrementing patients' discomfort. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the sedative and clinical effects of a dexmedetomidine–methadone combination following either oral transmucosal and intramuscular administration in healthy dogs and to record any possible adverse effects following each administration route. The present study suggests that oral transmucosal administration of dexmedetomidine and methadone combination provided a satisfactory level of sedation, allowing safe handling of the patients with less pronounced cardiorespiratory effects. Indeed, thanks to the lesser impact on the cardiac function, it could be considered as a useful option for those patients difficult to restrain in which cardiovascular stability should be preserved. The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and physiological effects following either oral transmucosal (OTM) or intramuscular administration of dexmedetomidine–methadone combination in healthy dogs. Thirty dogs were randomly assigned to receive a dexmedetomidine–methadone combination either by the OTM (n = 15) or intramuscular (n = 15) route. Sedation was scored 10, 20, and 30 min after drugs administration. Heart rate (HR), non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), respiratory rate (fR), and body rectal temperature were recorded before drugs administration and then every 10 min for 30 min. Propofol dose required for orotracheal intubation was recorded. Sedation scores increased over time within both groups with higher values in intramuscular group (p < 0.05). Within each group, HR decreased significantly compared with baseline (p < 0.001) and was significantly lower in intramuscular group compared with the OTM group (p < 0.001). In both groups, NIBP increased significantly compared with baseline (p < 0.05). In the intramuscular group, fR was lower compared with the OTM group at all the observational time points (p < 0.001). Propofol dose was lower in the intramuscular group (p < 0.05). Compared to intramuscular dexmedetomidine–methadone, OTM combination produced lower but effective sedation in healthy dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral transmucosal (OTM) delivery is a simple and painless method for sedative administration in veterinary medicine and allows a rapid absorption without a first-pass metabolism by the liver (Porters et al., 2014.). OTM is particularly useful in aggressive animals (Santos et al., 2010). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the OTM route in dogs for sedative administration in comparison with intramuscular (IM) injection. 24 mixed-breed dogs undergoing soft tissue surgery or diagnostic procedures were randomly divided in 4 groups (n = 6): two groups received OTM administration of dexmedetomidine (10 μg/kg-1) together with butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg-1, BTF-OTM group) or methadone (0.2mg/kg-1, MTD-OTM group); two groups received intramuscular (IM) administration of dexmedetomidine (5 μg/kg-1) together with butorphanol (0.2 m/kg-1, BTF-IM group) or methadone (0.2 mg/kg-1, MTD-IM). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), sedation score (Gruney et al., 2009) and side effects were recorded 10 (T10), 20 (T20) and 30 (T30) minutes after premedication. Induction was performed at T30 with titrate-to-effect propofol administration and the dosage required was recorded. At each time point BTF-IM group showed a statistically lower HR compared to BTF-OTM; RR was statistically lower at T10 in MTD-OTM group (21.33 ± 8.64 pm) compared to BTF-OTM (46.16 ± 17.98); Dogs in group MTD-IM reached a higher sedation scores at each time point compared to MTDOTM. The induction dose of propofol appears comparable among groups. Marked vasoconstriction was observed after OTM administration, as probably related to α2-agonists use. Emesis and sialorrhea occurred in two subjects of MTD-OTM group while only one dog presented sialorrhea in BTF-OTM group. In conclusion, OTM administration appears effective and easy to perform; it takes a longer time to achieve a good sedation score, probably related to a gradual absorption of drugs that also leads to a more gradual hemodynamic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]