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.