Tranquilizers

 Cattle

Drug Indications Dosage Contraindications

Detomidine Standing sedation in 0.03–0.06 mg/kg i.v. No associations with
(90-180 minutes) cattle drug residues in
milk after dosing in
dairy cows or
increased risk of
abortion.
Medetomidine Deep sedation and 0.005–0.01 mg/kg i.v The lower dose
(30-45 minutes) recumbency results in deep
sedation whereas the
higher
produces
recumbency.
-Bradycardia,
Respiratory
Depression
Stasis of rumen with
tympany
Xylazine Casting agent or 0.11–0.22 mg/kg i.m Profound effects in
(onset, 10-15 Sedation in cattle 0.055–0.11 mg/kg i.v. cattle, causes
minutes) Standing Xylazine: 0.02 mg/kg recumbency at the
(Dose dependent 1-2 sedation/analgesia i.v. intramuscular higher intramuscular
hours) dose dose and standing
sedation with the
lower intravenous
dose. Gastrointestinal
side effects in large
bulls have been
reported, there is an
increased risk of
spontaneous
abortion during the
third trimester in
pregnant cows.
sedation in cattle
Xylazine/butorphanol Standing sedation Butorphanol:
0.05–0.07 mg/kg
i.v.14

 Small Ruminant
Drugs Indications Dose Contraindications
Acepromazine Mild sedation 0.05–0.1 mg/kg i.m. May be used for
(4-6 hours) restraint prior to
induction.
Detomidine Sedation 0.03 mg/kg i.v. Detomidine and
Detomidine: 0.01 butorphanol may be
mg/kg used as
Butorphanol: 0.1 preanesthetics.
Detomidine with Sedation mg/kg i.v. Detomidine produces
Butorphanol dose- and route-
dependent sedation
in goats; doses of
0.02 mg/kg i.v. result
in sedation and
moderate
analgesia and a dose
of 0.04 mg/kg i.v. or
i.m.
causes sternal
recumbency and
severe ataxia.
Butorphanol provides
effective preemptive
and
postoperative
analgesia in goat.
Xylazine Sedation 0.1–0.4 mg/kg i.v in Goats are more
sheep sensitive to xylazine
0.05–0.1 mg/kg i.v. in than sheep
goats and thus require
lower doses.

 Equine

Drug Indications Dosage Contraindications

Acepromazine/ Sedation Ace: 0.06 mg/kg Acepromazine at a
meperdine Meperdine: 0.5 dose of 0.05 mg/kg
hydrochloride mg/kg i.v.
(Demerol) or i.m. can be used
for mild sedation that
*Onset, 2-3 minutes lasts approximately
* Duration, 240 90 minutes and
minutes begins within 15 to
 20 minutes.
Acepromazine should
not be used after
recent treatment
with
organophosphate
antihelmintics. Due
to its alpha-
adrenergic
blocking effect, this
drug should not be
used in cases of
hypovolemic shock,
except when volume
replacement has
been adequate and
peripheral
vasodilation to
increase perfusion is
desired.
Romifidine Sedation 40–120 μg/kg i.v. Produces sedation of
(onset, 2 minutes) a longer duration
(duration, 1-1.5 than detomidine or
hours) xylazine.
Xylazine Sedation/ 1.1 mg/kg i.v.42 Bradycardia and
preanesthetic 0.33–0.66 mg/kg i.v. transient cardiac
for arrhythmias (usually
preanesthetic partial
atrioventricular
block) occur when
Xylazine is given
intravenously, but
may be prevented by
prior administration
of atropine.At
maximum doses,
signifi cant ataxia
may complicate
standing procedures.
Animal behavior
under heavy sedation
may be
unpredictable. Good
for short procedures.