Intended for injection by intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous routes in the dog, and by the intramuscular or subcutaneous route in the cat.

Dosage: the following dose ranges are recommended:

Maximal effect is obtained within 10-15 minutes. The clinically useful effect is dose dependent, lasting 30-180 minutes, but may be repeated if necessary.

Animals should be fasted for 12 hours prior to anaesthesia.

Medetomidine has marked anaesthetic-sparing effects. It is essential to reduce appropriately the dose of anaesthetic induction and maintenance agents in animals that have been given the product.

Anaesthesia is maintained with halothane, with or without nitrous oxide.

Medetomidine is administered at least 20 minutes before thiopentone (inducing agent) to allow sedation to develop. Guideline doses of thiopentone are as follows:

The dose of thiopentone may vary considerably in different animals. The optimum dose of medetomidine is in the range 20-40 µg/kg and is dependent on the temperament of the dog. At higher doses of medetomidine, thiopentone may not be required for intubation. Thiopentone is administered slowly as a dilute solution, intravenously to effect, over a period of 30-45 seconds. Once jaw relaxation is adequate, tracheal intubation can be undertaken. Onset of unconsciousness may be delayed for up to 1 minute following injection of thiopentone, slow intravenous injection is therefore required as indicated above. After intubation, anaesthesia may be maintained with halothane in oxygen (with or without nitrous oxide) administered to effect. Recovery from anaesthesia may take from 20 to more than 60 minutes. For recoveries in excess of 1 hour it is advisable to administer atipamezole (Antisedan).

Medetomidine is administered either intravenously at least 10 minutes before intravenous propofol (induction agent) or intramuscularly at least 20 minutes before propofol to allow sedation to develop. Medetomidine may be administered at a dose rate of 10, 20 or 40 micrograms/kg. The following table is a guideline for doses:

Following premedication with medetomidine, doses of propofol of up to 4 mg/kg administered intravenously have been safely used when a greater depth of anaesthesia is required.

N.B. The induction time is increased following premedication, so propofol should be administered by slow intravenous injection and up to 2.5 minutes should be allowed before a further dose is given.

Once jaw relaxation is adequate, tracheal intubation can be undertaken. It is advisable to administer oxygen during anaesthesia.

For maintenance of anaesthesia the dose of propofol is markedly reduced by medetomidine premedication. Infusion doses of 0.06 to 0.35 mg/kg/minute will provide stable anaesthesia for dogs sedated with between 40 and 10 µg/kg medetomidine respectively. For intermittent bolus administration, a dose of 1 mg/kg of propofol at intervals of between 4 and 12 minutes will provide stable anaesthesia.

Recovery from anaesthesia may take from 20 to > 60 minutes.

Food should be withheld for 12 hours prior to anaesthesia.

Atipamezole administered in the post-operative phase will hasten the recovery from anaesthesia.

Medetomidine and butorphanol can be administered together in the same syringe, by intramuscular or intravenous injection.

Dose rate: Medetomidine 10-25 µg/kg, depending on the degree of sedation required, plus 0.1 mg/kg butorphanol. Allow 20 minutes for sedation to develop before commencing the procedure.

Reversal with an equal volume of atipamezole to that of the product used results in sternal recumbency approximately 5 minutes later and standing approximately a further 2 minutes later.

Dose rate: Medetomidine 10 µg/kg and butorphanol 0.1 mg/kg. Medetomidine and butorphanol can be administered together in the same syringe, by intramuscular or intravenous injection.

Allow 20 minutes for sedation to develop before administering thiopentone. Atipamezole administered in the post-operative phase will hasten recovery from anaesthesia.

Canine doses (ml) for mild sedation, or premedication prior to thiopentone:

Canine doses (ml) for deep sedation:

Medetomidine and butorphanol can be administered together in the same syringe, by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.

Dose rate: Medetomidine 50 µg/kg, depending on the degree of sedation required, plus 0.40 mg/kg butorphanol. Allow 20 minutes for sedation to develop before commencing the procedure.

Local anaesthetic infiltration should be used for wound suturing.

Reversal with half volume of Atipamezole 5 mg/ml to that of product used, results in sternal recumbency approximately 4 minutes later and standing approximately a further 2 minutes later.

Feline doses (ml) for medetomidine/butorphanol sedation:

The agents may be given concomitantly in the same syringe, by the intramuscular route. To minimise the risk of cross contamination between vials, insert separate needles into each vial for withdrawal. A dose of 80 µg/kg is recommended for medetomidine, with 2.5-7.5 mg/kg ketamine giving onset of anaesthesia in 3-4 minutes and a duration of 30-50 minutes for surgical procedures.

Anaesthesia may be prolonged, if required, with halothane and oxygen, with or without nitrous oxide.

Atropine is not normally necessary when using a medetomidine/ketamine combination. Food should be withheld for 12 hours prior to anaesthesia.

Dosage: Medetomidine 80 µg/kg, butorphanol 0.4 mg/kg and ketamine 5 mg/kg should be given in a single syringe.

Cats become recumbent in 2-3 minutes following injection. Loss of pedal reflex occurs 3 minutes post injection.

Reversal by 200 µg/kg atipamezole results in return of pedal reflex 2 minutes later, sternal recumbency 6 minutes later and standing 31 minutes later.

Feline doses (ml) for intramuscular medetomidine/butorphanol/ketamine anaesthesia:

Dosage: Medetomidine 40 µg/kg, butorphanol 0.1 mg/kg and ketamine from 1.25 to 2.5 mg/kg (depending on depth of anaesthesia required).

Reversal by 100 µg/kg of atipamezole results in return of pedal reflex 4 minutes later, sternal recumbency 7 minutes later and standing 18 minutes later.

Feline doses (ml) for intravenous medetomidine/butorphanol/ketamine anaesthesia:

Approximate time scales in intravenous medetomidine/butorphanol/ketamine anaesthesia:

Dosage: Administer medetomidine 80 µg/kg by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. 15-60 minutes later administer 2.5-5.0 mg/kg alphaxalone/alphadolone intravenously. Anaesthesia may be maintained by further intravenous injections of alphaxalone/alphadolone, or by administration of halothane in oxygen.

Feline doses (ml) for medetomidine/alphaxalone/alphadolone anaesthesia:

An appropriately graduated syringe must be used to allow accurate administration of the required dose volume. This is particularly important when injecting small volumes. Medetomidine must not be mixed with other products with the exception of Vetalar and Torbugesic injection.