The effects of acepromazine, detomidine and romifidine were compared in horses in the present study, aiming to determine which agent is safer and more effective for the referred species of animal. Fifteen healthy horses of the same sex, age and breed varying, were sent to the Surgical Division of the Veterinarian Hospital of FMVZ-USP. The animals were distributed in three groups; group I - GI - received 0.1mg/kg of acepromazine; group II - GII - received 20mug/kg of detomidine; group III - GIII received 80mug/kg of romifidine, all agents delivered intravenously. Prior to administration of the agents and at 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after their application, the following parameters were evaluated: heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure. Arterial blood samples were collected to verify pH, partial oxygen pressure and partial carbon dioxide pressure. The results were submitted to statistical analysis using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Tukey test. No significant alteration was observed in respiratory rate of the studied groups. The heart rate significantly decreased in the animals treated with the alpha-2 agonist agents when compared to the values obtained in the GI. Following administration of acepromazine a significant decrease n systolic and diastolic blood pressures was observed in relation to control values. The animals of GI presented pressure values that were statistically inferior in relation to the values obtained for groups II and III. The animals in GII showed an increase in systolic arterial pressure after 15 minutes of agent administration, with subsequent reduction in this data. The same occurred in GIII however without statistically significant difference. With this results it can be concluded that romifidine and detomidine promoted alterations of less intensity and duration in the studied parameters when compared to acepromazine.
acepromazine; romifidine; detomidine; horses
