[The clinical administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone in dogs]

The short introduction gives a review on the complex of exogen and endogen opioids and their receptors as well as on their pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of naloxone. The clinical efficacy of naloxone as an opioid antagonist is described. Applications of naloxone for the dog are specified: antagonisation of etorphine, morphine, levomethadone and fentanyl, antagonisation of exogen and endogen opioids in puppies and treatment of lactomania in the bitch. The mean effective dose to antagonize morphines is 0.003 mg/kg bodyweight. If persisting analgesia is indicated the dose of naloxone in titrating steps in 0.001 mg/kg bw. To antagonize postpartal hypoxia in puppies 0.02 mg per animal naloxone have to be injected. For treatment of lactomania a dose of 0.01 mg/kg bodyweight twice a day for a couple of days is recommended. The clinical effectivity of naloxone is proved doubtlessly. Compatibility and safety are very high.