Effects of Xylazine or Acepromazine in dogs under constant rate infusion with alfaxalone

The anesthetic depth and cardiovascular effect of alfaxalone constant rate infusion in dogs premedicated with xylazine or acepromazine were evaluated. Ten dogs were randomly allocated into 2 groups. In group AA, dogs were premedicated with 0.02 mg/kg of intravenous acepromazine at 15 min before induction. In group XA 1.1 mg/kg of intravenous xylazine was premedicated at 5 min before induction. The anesthesia was maintained with 6 mg/kg/hr of alfaxalone after induction with 2 mg/kg alfaxalone in both groups. In both of groups, the qualities of induction were satisfactory without any adverse event, but adequate analgesia could not be provided, according to the withdrawal test. $PaO_2$ and $SaO_2$ implied a slight hypoxemia state in XA group, while those values of group AA were not significantly changed. The acepromazine and alfaxalone combination induce mild tachycardia. The bispectral index score were significantly decreased in group XA, compared with that in group AA. The premedication of xylazine before alfaxalone constant rate infusion in this study could provide adequate analgesia during 30 min, while the premedication with acepromazine could not.