Effect of romifidine and romifidine-butorphanol for sedation in dogs

The sedative and physiological effects of intravenous romifidine at 120 micrograms/kg were compared with intravenous romifidine (120 micrograms/kg) followed immediately by intravenous butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg) in 18 clinically normal adult beagles in a blinded randomised change-over study. Following the injection of romifidine alone the dogs became recumbent and there was an increase in a subjective score awarded to the degree of sedation. Heart rate and respiratory rate decreased and minor bradyarrhythmias were noted. The romifidine-butorphanol combination produced a significant decrease in the time to the onset of sedation and increase in the sedative effect and duration of action compared with romifidine alone. With the exception of a further decrease in heart rate and respiratory rate, there were no additional side effects following the use of the romifidine-butorphanol combination. The marked sedative effect associated with this combination would appear to be useful in the clinical situation where an increased degree of sedation is required.