Oral transmucosal administration of acepromazine to healthy dogs leads to increased sedation scores in a hospital setting

Objectives The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the sedative effects of injectable acepromazine 2 mg/mL when administered to dogs via the oral transmucosal route. The secondary objective was to assess the cardiovascular and haemodynamic effects of oral transmucosal acepromazine. Materials and Methods A single centre, prospective, randomised, blinded, controlled clinical trial, including a total of 28 client‐owned adult healthy dogs (ASA I and II), undergoing elective surgical procedures. Patients were randomised into either a treatment group (A) receiving oral transmucosal acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg or a control group (C) receiving an equivalent oral transmucosal volume of water. Baseline values of sedation score, heart rate and non‐invasive blood pressure were obtained prior to dose administration and repeated 1 hour later. Results Sedation scores in group A were significantly higher after treatment compared to baseline and were significantly higher than group C at the same time point. Heart rate and non‐invasive blood pressure values significantly decreased following oral transmucosal acepromazine administration in group A and were significantly lower than group C at the same time point. Clinical Significance Oral transmucosal acepromazine significantly increases sedation scores and decreases heart rate and non‐invasive blood pressure 1 hour following administration. These findings support the administration of oral transmucosal acepromazine for pre‐hospital sedation in healthy dogs.