Sedative action of the α2‐agonist medetomidine in cats

Stenberg, D., Salven, P. & Miettinen, M.V.J. Sedative action of the α2‐agonist medetomidine in cats. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 10, 319–323. Medetomidine, a novel α2‐agonist drug intended for small animal sedation, was injected intramuscularly at dose rates of 0.02, 0.06 and 0.18 mg/kg. Xylazine (3.0 mg/kg) and saline were used for comparison. The five treatments were tested in a Latin square design in five cats. Treatments differed significantly in three‐way analysis of variance, medetomidine inducing an increase in drowsiness with a corresponding decrease in both aroused waking and sleep determined by polygraphical criteria. The duration of effect was dose‐dependent. The effect of 0.18 mg/kg medetomidine was comparable to 3.0 mg/kg of xylazine. The drugs also induced bradycardia.