VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

SEDATIVES AND TRANQUILIZERS

• Sedatives and tranquilizers are used to relax an animal for procedures such as trimming nails, taking x-rays, or drawing blood. These medications are injected either into a muscle or directly into a vein.
• Sedatives and tranquilizers are commonly used in combinations as preanesthetics before general anesthesia to relax and sedate the animal.
• Diazepam (Valium) and midazolam are tranquilizers that are used to relax animals before surgery. They should not be used in pregnant animals, since they could cause birth defects. Acepromazine is another tranquilizer used as a preanesthetic.
• It should not be used in animals that have seizures, since it may increase the risk of the animal having a seizure.
• It may also cause hypotension (low blood pressure). Tranquilizers do not provide analgesia (pain relief).
• With any of these medications, the animal may be groggy for the remainder of the day, but should be able to stand and walk before he is allowed to go home.