Effect of acepromazine or xylazine on tear production as measured by Schirmer tear test in normal cats

Objective To evaluate the effect of acepromazine or xylazine on Schirmer tear test 1 results in clinically normal cats. Animals Sixteen healthy cross-breed cats. Procedure The animals were randomly divided into two groups of eight cats each. The first group was sedated with acepromazine alone (0.2 mg/kg) and the second group received only xylazine (2 mg/kg). All cats had Schirmer tear test (STT) readings taken prior to sedation and at 15 and 25 min postsedation. Results Sedation with acepromazine or xylazine in cats with normal pre-sedation STT 1 values caused a statistically significant decrease in mean values of tear production in both groups. In acepromazine group the mean ± SEM STT at T15 and T25 were 4.31 ± 0.98 (P