Comparison of two sedation protocols for short electroretinography in cats.

DEL SOLE MJ; NEJAMKIN P; CAVILLA V; SCHAIQUEVICH P; MORENO L

JOURNAL OF FELINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017

1098-612X

Objectives The objectives were to compare two different sedative combinations, xylazine-ketamine and dexmedetomidine-ketamine, on the short electroretinography (ERG) protocol and their impact on sedative effect, reversal times and physiological variables in cats. Methods Six healthy spayed female domestic cats were sedated using one of two ketamine-containing protocols: intramuscular xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) plus ketamine hydrochloride (3 mg/kg) (XK), and dexmedetomidine hydrochloride (5 µg/kg) plus ketamine hydrochloride (3 mg/kg) (DK). A short ERG protocol was recorded from the left eye of each cat under XK and DK sedation. Thirty minutes later, the effects were reversed with yohimbine or atipamezole for the XK and DK treatment, respectively. The cats were evaluated for time to recumbency, time to head elevation, and time to standing position after reversal treatments. Other variables recorded were: systolic blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, heart rate, pulse oximetry and respiratory rate. Recorded ERG variables included a- and b-wave amplitudes and implicit times under photopic, scotopic and scotopic mixed ERG conditions. Results Time to lateral recumbency with XK was shorter than for DK ( P