For parenteral use by intramuscular (IM), intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) injection.

Maximal effect is obtained within 10 - 15 minutes. Duration of the clinically useful effect is dose related (30 - 180 minutes). The dose can be repeated if necessary.

Domitor and butorphanol can be administered together in the same syringe, by IM or IV injection.

Dose rate: 10-25 mcg/kg ( 0.01 - 0.025 ml/kg) Domitor, depending on the degree of sedation required, plus 0.1mg/kg butorphanol (0.01ml/kg of 10mg/ml solution). Allow 20 minutes for sedation to develop before commencing the procedure.

Reversal with an equal volume of Antisedan IM to that of Domitor used results in sternal recumbency approximately 5 minutes later and standing approximately a further 2 minutes later.

Dose rate: Domitor 10 mcg/kg (0.01 ml/kg) and butorphanol 0.1mg/kg (0.01ml/kg of 10mg/ml solution).

Domitor and butorphanol can be administered together in the same syringe, by IM or IV injection.

Allow 15 minutes for sedation to develop before administering thiopentone.

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

Domitor is administered at least 20 minutes before thiopentone (induction agent) to allow sedation to develop. Domitor may be administered at a dose rate of 10, 20 or 40 mcg/kg (0.01, 0.02 or 0.04 ml/kg). Subsequent guideline doses of thiopentone would be 6.9, 4.5 and 2.4 mg/kg respectively (e.g. 0.276, 0.18 or 0.096 ml/kg of 2.5% solution). However, the dosage required may vary considerably in individual animals. The optimum dose of Domitor is in the range of 20 - 40 mcg/kg and will depend on the temperament of the dog. At higher doses, thiopentone may not be required for intubation, i.e. intubation may be possible under medetomidine alone.

Thiopentone as a dilute solution (1.25 - 2.5%) is administered by the IV route slowly to effect over a period of 30 - 45 seconds. Once jaw relaxation is considered adequate, tracheal intubation can be undertaken.

N.B. Onset of unconsciousness may be delayed for up to one minute following injection of thiopentone. Therefore, slow IV injection is 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 60 minutes.

Food should be withheld for 12 hours prior to anaesthesia.

For recoveries in excess of one hour it is advisable to administer Antisedan.

Domitor is administered either IV at least 10 minutes before propofol (induction agent), or IM at least 20 minutes before propofol to allow sedation to develop. Domitor may be administered at a dose rate of 10, 20 or 40 mcg/kg (0.01, 0.02 or 0.04 ml/kg). The following table is a guideline for doses of Domitor and propofol:

Following premedication with Domitor, doses of propofol of up to 4 mg/kg (e.g. 0.4ml/kg of 10mg/ml emulsion) have been safely used when a greater depth of anaesthesia is required.

N.B. The induction time is increased following Domitor premedication; propofol should be administered slowly 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 (e.g. 0.006 - 0.035ml/kg of a 10mg/ml emulsion) will provide stable anaesthesia for dogs sedated with between 40 and 10 mcg/kg Domitor respectively. For intermittent bolus administration, a dose of 1 mg/kg (e.g. 0.1ml/kg of a 10mg/ml emulsion) 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.

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

For parenteral use by IM or SC injection.

Maximal effect is obtained within 10 - 15 minutes. Duration of the clinically useful effect is dose related (30 - 180 minutes). The dose can be repeated if necessary.

Domitor and butorphanol can be administered together in the same syringe, by IM or SC injection.

Dose rate: Domitor 50 mcg/kg (0.05 ml/kg), depending on the degree of sedation required, plus 0.4mg/kg butorphanol (0.04ml/kg of 10mg/ml solution).

Local anaesthetic infiltration should be used for wound suturing.

Reversal with half the volume of Antisedan to that of the previously administered Domitor (i.e. 125mcg/kg ; 0.125 ml/ 5kg) of Antisedan results in sternal recumbency approximately 4 minutes later and standing approximately a further 1 minute later.

Domitor and Vetalar or Ketaset (ketamine) are administered concomitantly, in the same syringe, by the IM route. Although medetomidine and ketamine hydrochloride can be administered concomitantly, Domitor may only be combined with either Vetalar or Ketaset and administered in the same syringe. To minimise the possibility of cross contamination, the vials of each product should have separate needles inserted for withdrawal. Domitor should be administered at a rate of 80 mcg/kg (0.08 ml/kg) with a concomitant dose of 2.5 - 7.5 mg/kg (0.025 - 0.075ml/kg) of Vetalar or Ketaset (ketamine). Atropine is not normally necessary when using a medetomidine/ketamine combination.

Using this regime the average onset of anaesthesia is 3 - 4 minutes and surgical anaesthesia can be expected to last between 30 and 50 minutes. If required, anaesthesia may be prolonged with halothane and oxygen with or without nitrous oxide.

Food should be withheld for 12 hours prior to anaesthesia.

a) IM

Dosage: Domitor 80 mcg/kg (0.08ml/kg), butorphanol 0.4mg/kg (0.04ml/kg of 10mg/ml solution) and ketamine 5mg/kg (0.05ml/kg of 100mg/ml solution) should be given in a single syringe

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

Reversal with Antisedan 200 mcg/kg ( 0.04 ml/kg) by IM injection results in return of the pedal reflex 2 minutes later, sternal recumbency 6 minutes later and standing 31 minutes later.

b) IV

Dosage: Domitor 40 mcg/kg (0.04 ml/kg), butorphanol 0.1 mg/kg (e.g. 0.01ml/kg of 10mg/ml solution) and ketamine (depending on depth of anaesthesia required) from 1.25 to 2.5 mg/kg (e.g. 0.0125 - 0.025 ml/kg of 100mg/ml solution).

Reversal with Antisedan 100 mcg/kg ( 0.02 ml/kg) by IM injection results in return of the pedal reflex 4 minutes later, sternal recumbency 7 minutes later and standing 18 minutes later.

Dosage: Administer Domitor 80 mcg/kg (0.08ml/kg) by IM or SC injection.

15 - 60 minutes later administer 2.5 - 5.0 mg/kg alphaxalone/alphadolone ( e.g. 0.208 - 0.416 ml/kg of a 12mg/ml solution) IV.

Anaesthesia may be maintained by further IV injections of alphaxalone/alphadolone 1.0 - 2.0 mg/kg (e.g. 0.083 - 0.167 ml/kg of a 12 mg/ml solution), or by administration of halothane in oxygen.

Antisedan administered in the post-operative phase will hasten the recovery from anaesthesia. Half the volume of Antisedan to that of the previously administered Domitor (medetomidine) should be given by the IM route.