Gabapentin and alprazolam pretreatment enhance sedation and reduce propofol requirements but do not improve intravenous catheter placement in cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate whether pretreatment with gabapentin or alprazolam in cats increases sedation, facilitates intravenous catheter placement (IVCP), or reduces propofol requirements for intubation compared to placebo.

METHODS

All cats that participated in this prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial were admitted for elective ovariohysterectomy at a veterinary teaching hospital from 2022 to 2023. The cats were healthy, were ≥ 6 months old, and weighed > 3 kg. The cats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: group G received gabapentin (100 mg/cat), group A received alprazolam (0.125 mg/cat), and group P received a placebo. Ninety minutes after the pretreatment administration, premedication with acepromazine (0.02 mg/kg) and buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly. Thirty minutes later, sedation levels, IVCP difficulty, and propofol requirements for intubation were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 60 cats were finally included, with 20 cats in each group. Sedation scores were significantly higher in both group G and group A compared to group P, with no significant difference observed between group G and group A. No differences were observed in the difficulty of IVCP among the groups. Propofol requirements for intubation were significantly lower in group A (4.6 ± 1.2 mg/kg) compared to both group G (6.7 ± 2.4 mg/kg) and group P (8.4 ± 1.9 mg/kg).

CONCLUSIONS

Pretreatment with gabapentin or alprazolam increased sedation in cats undergoing premedication. Alprazolam reduced the propofol required for intubation, though neither drug facilitated IVCP.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings of our study can have implications for anesthesia protocols in feline patients.