Challenges of thermal nociceptive threshold testing in the donkey.

Objective: To evaluate a thermal nociceptive threshold (TNT) testing device in the donkey, and the influence of potential confounding factors on TNTs.

Animals: Two groups (Group 1 and Group 2) of eight castrated male donkeys aged 4-9 years, weighing 105-170 kg.

Methods: TNTs were measured by heating a thermal probe on skin until an end-point behaviour (threshold temperature) or a cut-out temperature (51 °C) was reached.

The influence of various confounding factors on mechanical nociceptive thresholds in the donkey.

Objective: To evaluate a mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) testing device in the donkey, and to investigate the influence of potential confounders on MNTs generated.

Study Design: Prospective, randomised.

Animals: Sixteen castrated male donkeys aged 4-9 years, weighing 105-170 kg.

Sedative and analgesic effects of buprenorphine, combined with either acepromazine or dexmedetomidine, for premedication prior to elective surgery in cats and dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the sedative and analgesic effects of intramuscular buprenorphine with either dexmedetomidine or acepromazine, administered as premedication to cats and dogs undergoing elective surgery.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, blinded clinical study.

Animals: Forty dogs and 48 cats.

Metabolic acidosis in healthy mules under general anaesthesia with halothane.

Objective: To report the severe metabolic acidosis identified in a group of 11 healthy mules anaesthetized with halothane for castration.

Study Design: Data generated from a prospective study.

Animals: Eleven mules aged 2.

A comparison of acepromazine-buprenorphine and medetomidine-buprenorphine for preanesthetic medication of dogs.

Objective: To assess sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of premedication with a medetomidine-buprenorphine or acepromazine-buprenorphine combination in dogs anesthetized with propofol and isoflurane.

Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Animals: 90 dogs undergoing routine surgical and diagnostic procedures.

A comparison of ketamine-midazolam and ketamine-medetomidine combinations for induction of anaesthesia in rabbits.

Objective: To compare ketamine-midazolam (KMZ) and ketamine-medetomidine (KMT) anaesthesia in rabbits using anaesthetic induction, maintenance and recovery data.

Study Design: Randomized, prospective, blinded clinical trial.

Animals: Fifty rabbits (25 male, 25 female) of different breeds undergoing ovariohysterectomy or castration.

Peri-operative body temperatures in isoflurane-anaesthetized rabbits following ketamine-midazolam or ketamine-medetomidine.

Objective: To investigate alterations in peri-operative body temperatures and oesophageal-skin temperatures in isoflurane-anaesthetized rabbits following either ketamine-midazolam or ketamine-medetomidine induction of anaesthesia.

Animal Population: Fifty client-owned rabbits, (25 male, 25 female) of different breeds anaesthetized for elective neutering (age range: 3-42 months; mass range: 1.15-4.

Assessment of the influence of surgical technique on postoperative pain and wound tenderness in cats following ovariohysterectomy.

Elective ovariohysterectomy was performed on 66 cats. Surgical approach was flank (group F) or midline (group M) allocated by block randomisation. Pre-anaesthetic medication was acepromazine (0.