Evaluation of detomidine-induced analgesia in horses with chronic hoof pain.

Abstract

Detomidine (10, 20 and 40 micrograms/kg i.v.) and saline were administered to eight adult horses with hoof pain and lameness associated with chronic laminitis. Mechanical noxious stimulation was applied to 16 loci over the solar surface of each forefoot by means of an electronic hoof tester to determine chronic pain thresholds. Horses were evaluated before and at 25, 55 and 120 min after treatment for lameness and to determine hoof compression thresholds (HCTs), the percentage of responsive loci and the subjective grade of hoof withdrawal response at each responsive locus. Detomidine produced a dose-dependent increase in HCT and a decrease in the subjective grade of hoof withdrawal response through 55 min after treatment. At 25 and 55 min postdose, the 40 micrograms/kg dose produced maximal elevation of the HCT. The percentage of responsive loci was decreased by detomidine at 25 min in a dose-dependent manner. The lameness grade was decreased by 40 and 20 micrograms/kg of detomidine at 25 min postdose. These data support previous studies demonstrating detomidine-induced analgesia in equine models of acute nociception.

• Authors: J G Owens, S G Kamerling, S R Stanton, M L Keowen
• Journal: The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics (J Pharmacol Exp Ther) Vol. 278 Issue 1 Pg. 179-84 (Jul 1996) ISSN: 0022-3565 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8764349 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Imidazoles
• detomidine

Topics

• Analgesia
• Analgesics (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Chronic Disease
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Hoof and Claw (physiopathology)
• Horse Diseases (physiopathology)
• Horses
• Imidazoles (pharmacology)
• Pain (veterinary)