E-ISSN 2218-6050 | ISSN 2226-4485
 

Research Article 


Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Gabriela Pereira Souza, Lucas Wanser Fonseca Gonzaga, Pablo Henrique Silva Avelar, Jelieny Aparecida Claudino, Marilda Onghero Taffarel, Marcos Ferrante.


Abstract
Introduction: Pre-sedation before general anesthesia helps reduce patient anxiety and facilitates anesthetic induction. Acepromazine and dexmedetomidine are widely used in dogs; however, these drugs cause cardiopulmonary alterations that may have a significant physiological impact when combined with the effects of propofol.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of premedication with acepromazine or dexmedetomidine associated with methadone on anesthetic induction with propofol administered at a rate of 1 mg/kg/min in healthy dogs.
Methods: Twenty-four healthy adult dogs were randomly divided into two groups according to the premedication protocol: ACP (0.02 mg/kg acepromazine associated with 0.3 mg/kg methadone) or DEX (2 µg/kg dexmedetomidine associated with 0.3 mg/kg methadone). In both groups, premedication was administered intramuscularly, and the dogs were subsequently induced with propofol at a rate of 1 mg/kg/min using a syringe infusion pump. The sedation level, total propofol dose required for induction, induction time, and cardiopulmonary variables at baseline, pre-induction, and post-induction periods were evaluated.
Results: The DEX group showed a higher sedation score (p < 0.001), lower propofol requirement (p = 0.005), shorter induction time (p = 0.024), lower heart rate (p = 0.036), lower respiratory rate (p = 0.04), and a higher incidence of post-induction hypercapnia (p < 0.001) compared to the ACP group. The incidence of myoclonus during anesthetic induction was higher in the ACP group (p = 0.005). No animals exhibited apnea, desaturation, or hypotension.
Conclusion: The use of 2 µg/kg dexmedetomidine associated with 0.3 mg/kg methadone as premedication promotes a higher degree of sedation, reducing the propofol dose and the incidence of myoclonus during anesthetic induction with propofol at a rate of 1 mg/kg/min. However, it has a greater impact on heart rate and respiratory parameters after induction compared to the combination of 0.02 mg/kg acepromazine and 0.3 mg/kg methadone.

Key words: Premedication; Anesthesia; Canine; Continuous infusion.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Souza GP, Gonzaga LWF, Avelar PHS, Claudino JA, Taffarel MO, Ferrante M. Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42


Web Style

Souza GP, Gonzaga LWF, Avelar PHS, Claudino JA, Taffarel MO, Ferrante M. Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=246483 [Access: August 17, 2025]. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Souza GP, Gonzaga LWF, Avelar PHS, Claudino JA, Taffarel MO, Ferrante M. Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Souza GP, Gonzaga LWF, Avelar PHS, Claudino JA, Taffarel MO, Ferrante M. Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42



Harvard Style

Souza, G. P., Gonzaga, . L. W. F., Avelar, . P. H. S., Claudino, . J. A., Taffarel, . M. O. & Ferrante, . M. (2025) Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42



Turabian Style

Souza, Gabriela Pereira, Lucas Wanser Fonseca Gonzaga, Pablo Henrique Silva Avelar, Jelieny Aparecida Claudino, Marilda Onghero Taffarel, and Marcos Ferrante. 2025. Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42



Chicago Style

Souza, Gabriela Pereira, Lucas Wanser Fonseca Gonzaga, Pablo Henrique Silva Avelar, Jelieny Aparecida Claudino, Marilda Onghero Taffarel, and Marcos Ferrante. "Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial." doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Souza, Gabriela Pereira, Lucas Wanser Fonseca Gonzaga, Pablo Henrique Silva Avelar, Jelieny Aparecida Claudino, Marilda Onghero Taffarel, and Marcos Ferrante. "Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial." doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Souza, G. P., Gonzaga, . L. W. F., Avelar, . P. H. S., Claudino, . J. A., Taffarel, . M. O. & Ferrante, . M. (2025) Effect of Acepromazine or Dexmedetomidine Associated with Methadone on Anesthetic Induction with Propofol at a Rate of 1 mg/kg/min in Healthy Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i7.42