The Veterinary record
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The British Veterinary Behaviour Association and the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors held a meeting last month to highlight the One Health principle with regard to the behaviour of people and animals, particularly pets. Caroline Bower reports.
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The Veterinary record · Oct 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEvaluation of sedation and clinical effects of midazolam with ketamine or dexmedetomidine in pet rabbits.
The effects of two sedation protocols combining midazolam with ketamine (ketamine group) or dexmedetomidine (dexmedetomidine group) were studied in dwarf companion rabbits undergoing abdominal ultrasound scan. The onset of sedation was faster in the ketamine group; a few rabbits in the dexmedetomidine group required additional doses to lose the righting reflex, although sedation time was not different between groups. ⋯ Respiratory rate decreased in relation to the baseline values with both protocols but arterial haemoglobin saturation with oxygen was maintained similar to the pre-sedation values throughout the entire procedure, regardless of protocol used and without oxygen supplementation. Both protocols allowed performance of ultrasound scanning, although dexmedetomidine may be preferred if a deep sedation level is required.
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The Veterinary record · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialContinuous infusion of remifentanil combined with target-controlled infusion of propofol for tracheal intubation in dogs.
Ninety dogs presenting for elective surgery were randomly assigned into three groups of 30. Intubation conditions, haemodynamic responses and other events were evaluated following target controlled infusion (TCI) with propofol at 3.0 μg/ml, combined with variable infusion rates of remifentanil (R1 0.1 μg/kg/minute, R2 0.2 μg/kg/minute, R3 0.3 μg/kg/minute). Tracheal intubation was recorded as excellent, good or poor according to jaw relaxation, tongue withdrawal, ease of laryngoscopy, swallowing, coughing and limb movement. ⋯ Following intubation, despite an increase in MAP and MHR values, they remained significantly lower than baseline values. Muscle twitching and involuntary movement was observed after propofol induction in 10 dogs. The results suggest that a plasma concentration of 3 μg/ml propofol along with an infusion rate of remifentanil at 0.3 μg/kg/minute may provide satisfactory conditions for intubation, while avoiding major adverse haemodynamic effects.