The Journal of small animal practice
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To assess and quantify medetomidine contamination of butorphanol multidose vials in small animal general practices and determine if practice policies and procedures regarding drug handling, as determined by questionnaire, impact upon contamination level. ⋯ Contamination of butorphanol multidose vials with medetomidine was common but the level of contamination was insufficient to cause detrimental effects in dogs if butorphanol were to be administered alone. The potential for sporadic higher levels of contamination must be taken into account, especially when using 50 mL vials when sedating critically ill cases, because there is a risk of clinical side effects.