Effect of acepromazine and butorphanol on halothane minimum alveolar concentration in ponies

The effect of i.v. acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg bwt), butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg bwt) and a combination of acepromazine and butorphanol on halothane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) was determined in 7 mixed-breed ponies. Ventilation was controlled, and blood pressure and temperature were maintained within normal limits. Following the determination of baseline MAC, treatments were administered to each pony in a random manner. The control treatment was normal saline. The baseline halothane dMAC for the control group was 0.91 +/- 0.04%, and no significant change occurred after saline administration. Acepromazine decreased (P = 0.0001) the halothane MAC from mean +/- s.e. 0.92 +/- 0.02% to 0.58 +/- 0.04%, and the combination of acepromazine and butorphanol, decreased (P = 0.003) halothane MAC, from mean +/- s.e. 0.95 +/- 0.04% to 0.59 +/- 0.06%. This represents a decrease of 36.9 and 37.8%, respectively. However, the difference between these 2 treatments was not significant. Butorphanol did not significantly change the mean group value for MAC; nevertheless, 3 ponies had an increase, one a decrease, while the MAC did not change in the remaining 3 ponies following butorphanol treatment.