Fractious cats. Does extra methadone give more sedation?

RE: Fractious cats. Does extra methadone give more sedation?

Jo Murrell — Thu, 02 May 2019 08:03:31 GMT

[quote user=""Lydia"]our protocol is usually dom 20mcg/kg and butorphenol 0.2mg/kg - for a peaceful cat I would halve the dom. If I change to methadone would a higher dose (0.4?) give some more sedation?[/quote]

No - you are likely to get better sedation with the butorphanol - but i would think that with the dose of medetomidine you are using you will get enough sedation from the medetomidine that you won't notice any difference in sedation if you switch to methadone (which will be better for post op analgesia).

RE: Fractious cats. Does extra methadone give more sedation?

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 02 May 2019 02:20:32 GMT

[quote user="bevs2251"]Each to their own. It's what I'm used to and works well. [/quote]

I agree with that part. We use medetomidine in pretty much every pre-med and sedative so are used to it, I guess. I like the fact we can turn it back off again in minutes. Maintains blood pressure.

I feel an often misunderstood drug. I'd miss it, don't miss ACP!

RE: Fractious cats. Does extra methadone give more sedation?

bevs2251 — Thu, 02 May 2019 02:16:56 GMT

No, been using it for years with narcotic (20+) and then also prior to everything on IV fluids. I use 0.04mg/kg ACP (0.02mg/kg or less for old/renal) + 0.3mg/kg Butorphanol (might decrease to 0.2mg/kg for oldies). Mild vasoD helps when placing a catheter anyway, Domitor flattens the veins.

Each to their own. It's what I'm used to and works well.

RE: Fractious cats. Does extra methadone give more sedation?

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 02 May 2019 02:06:35 GMT

Medetomidine is my cat drug of choice. Love the stuff. Don't even stock injectable ACP. Don't you worry about vasodillation and BP in cats?

RE: Fractious cats. Does extra methadone give more sedation?

bevs2251 — Thu, 02 May 2019 02:02:02 GMT

Hi Lydia. Didn't know you were on this site too. Welcome, fellow Aussie .

I tend to use ACP/butorphanol for my premeds, not a fan of Domitor. I have found that Butorphanol is a far better sedative in cats than Methadone. I switched to using Butorphanol rather than Methadone for dogs and cats a few years ago. They get NSAID injection immediately post-op so pain relief not an issue (I know, Butorphanol less pain relief than Methadone).

Can't comment on Dom/Butorphanol vs Methadone as only use it for sedation not premed.

Do use ACP/ketamine for fractious cats but had a young cat react badly recently when had to give extra ketamine so but wary of that now.