Usefulness of Medetomidine as an Inducing and Recovery Agent during General Anesthesia of Thoroughbreds

Abstract

This evaluation of the sedative effects of medetomidine on general anesthesia of thoroughbreds used 12 horses. For sedation purposes, group A (6 horses) was injected with xylazine and midazolam; group B (6 horses) was injected with medetomidine. Recovery took longer in group B than in group A. For general anesthesia of thoroughbreds, therefore medetomidine is considered more effective than the combination of xylazine and midazolam.