Pharmacopuncture with low-dose dexmedetomidine and saline aquapuncture at acupoint Governing Vessel 24 provides sedation in healthy adult horses.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate sedation in horses following pharmacopuncture with dexmedetomidine at acupoint Governing Vessel 24 (GV-24) compared to aquapuncture at GV-24 or an equivalent dose of dexmedetomidine administered via IV or SC routes.

METHODS

10 adult mares received 4 treatments in a blinded, randomized, crossover design: (1) dexmedetomidine administered at GV-24 (DexmedGV24; 1 μg/kg); (2) saline administered at GV-24 (SalineGV24; 1.5 mL); (3) dexmedetomidine administered SC on the lateral neck (DexmedSC; 1 μg/kg); or (4) dexmedetomidine administered IV (DexmedIV; 1 μg/kg). Sedation scores (facial sedation scale [FaceSed] and equine sedation scale [EquiSed]), head height above ground, pulse rate, and respiratory rate were collected at baseline and 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes after treatment (T5, T15, T30, T45, T60, and T90). Head height above ground, FaceSed, and EquiSed were compared with a pairwise Wilcoxon signed rank test.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in sedation scores between treatment groups at any time points. When compared to baseline, the FaceSed scores were significantly higher at all time points in DexmedGV24 and SalineGV24; at T15, T30, T60, and T90 in DexmedSC; and at T5, T15, T30, T45, and T60 in DexmedIV. The EquiSed scores were significantly higher at T5 and T60 in DexmedGV24; at T30 and T45 in SalineGV24; at T45, T60, and T90 in DexmedSC; and at T5, T15, T30, T45, and T60 in DexmedIV. Head height was significantly lowered at T60 in DexmedGV24 and at T5, T30, T45, and T60 in DexmedIV.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacopuncture with dexmedetomidine at GV-24 provided sedation with no significant difference compared to SC administration, IV administration, or aquapuncture at GV-24.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pharmacopuncture with dexmedetomidine or saline aquapuncture at GV-24 is an alternative route for sedation in horses.