Enhancing Effect of Butorphanol on Medetomidine-Induced Sedation in Pigs

Abstract

Enhancing effect of an opiate agonist-antagonist butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) on sedation induced by medetomidine (80 μg/kg) was evaluated in pigs. Butorphanol significantly enhanced the depth of medetomidine-induced sedation and prolonged the duration of that assessed by posture score and spontaneous movement of pigs. The combination of medetomidine and butorphanol produced excellent muscle relaxation and moderate surface analgesia which was enough for procedures with mild pain in pigs.