Anesthesia & Sedation

Welfare implications of low-dose atipamezole reversal of tiletamine/zolazepam/xylazine anaesthesia in pigs (2025)

Anaesthesia is sometimes required for the effective restraint of laboratory pigs for sample collection. Yet, anaesthesia can initiate a range of physiological disruptions that can increase variability in study data and lead to poorer animal welfare. Judicious use of anaesthesia...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Layton, R., Beggs, D. S., Fisher, A. et al. 2025. Welfare implications of low-dose atipamezole reversal of tiletamine/zolazepam/xylazine anaesthesia in pigs. Animals 15(2), 258.

Evaluation of tricaine methanesulfonate concentrations for flow anesthesia in zebrafish (Danio rerio) (2025)

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are often anesthetized by immersion in buffered tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222). Although commonly utilized, immersion anesthesia presents a shortcoming of lethal asphyxiation with increased duration of exposures. A newer technique that circumvents this issue, known as flow anesthesia,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Kramer, A. G., Bern, L. R., Ferguson, L. T. et al. 2025. Evaluation of tricaine methanesulfonate concentrations for flow anesthesia in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zebrafish 22(3), 99–106.

Sedation and general anaesthesia of crocodilians: A systematic review

Sedation and general anaesthesia of crocodilians pose unique challenges due to their aggressive nature, poikilothermic physiology, and specific anatomical and physiological characteristics, all factors that complicate crocodilian anaesthesia. This review aimed to systematically review the literature regarding sedation and general...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Crocodile & Alligator, Reptile

Citation: Kruuse, A. O., Markusen, L. D., Grøndahl, C. et al. 2024. Sedation and general anaesthesia of crocodilians: A systematic review. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 66(1), 56.

Use of the oxygen reserve index/FiO2 as a non-invasive index to estimate venous admixture in anesthetized dogs

The oxygen reserve index (ORi) is a novel, non-invasive parameter that estimates arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) during hyperoxia when the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) is elevated. This study aimed to assess the utility of the ORi/FiO2 ratio as...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Bellini, L., Maney, J. K., Zanusso, F. et al. 2025. Use of the oxygen reserve index/FiO2 as a non-invasive index to estimate venous admixture in anesthetized dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Evaluation of thermal support during anesthesia induction on body temperature in C57BL/6 and nude mice

Heat supplementation during surgery is a common practice; however, thermal support is not commonly used during anesthesia induction. Mice lose body temperature quickly, and air movement can exacerbate this, potentially putting mice at a thermal deficit before surgery. Whether the...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gaskill, B. N., Boykin, C., Zuniga, I. et al. 2024. Evaluation of thermal support during anesthesia induction on body temperature in C57BL/6 and nude mice. JAALAS 63(3), 294–302.

Comparison of hemodynamic effects of propofol or alfaxalone during induction in dogs

This randomized prospective clinical study aimed to compare the hemodynamic effects of propofol and alfaxalone for the induction of anesthesia in dogs. Thirty-one healthy dogs undergoing various procedures in a private referral center were premedicated with intramuscular acepromazine (0.015 mg/kg) and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Sarotti, D., Franci, P., Oricco, S. et al. 2024. Comparison of hemodynamic effects of propofol or alfaxalone during induction in dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Sedation efficacy of midazolam in conjunction with ketamine and alfaxalone in female laboratory guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

Guinea pigs have been integral as models used in biomedical research, making significant contributions to nutritional, auditory, immunologic, and hypersensitivity studies, and necessitating the routine need for sedation in laboratory settings. The ketamine-xylazine (KX) combination has been the standard sedation...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Wharton, K. N., Walsh, C. A., Haulter, M. et al. 2024. Sedation efficacy of midazolam in conjunction with ketamine and alfaxalone in female laboratory guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). JAALAS 63(5), 572–580.

Comparison of propofol and alfaxalone as anesthesic drugs in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomies (healthy bitches and with pyometra) and cesarean sections

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of two anesthetic agents, alfaxalone and propofol, on maternal physiological parameters (heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, and temperature) on either ovariohysterectomies or cesarean sections in bitches. A total of 34 healthy and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, ReproductionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Rodríguez-Trujillo, R., Batista-Arteaga, M., Iusupova, K. et al. 2024. Comparison of propofol and alfaxalone as anesthesic drugs in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomies (healthy bitches and with pyometra) and cesarean sections. Animals 14(9), 1343.

Apneustic anesthesia ventilation improves pulmonary function in anesthetized bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Our study suggests AAV, which more closely resembles the conscious intermittent respiratory pattern phenotype of dolphins, improves ventilation and pulmonary function in the anesthetized dolphin. Future studies should evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects of neutral buoyancy and cardiopulmonary sparing drug protocols...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Le-Bert, C. R., Bukoski, A., Downs, J. et al. 2024. Apneustic anesthesia ventilation improves pulmonary function in anesthetized bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Effects of vatinoxan in rats sedated with a combination of medetomidine, midazolam and fentanyl

Alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists (α2-agonists) are widely used in animals as sedatives and for pre-anaesthetic medication. Medetomidine has often been given subcutaneously (SC) to rats, although its absorption rate is slow and the individual variation in serum drug concentrations is high via...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Lindh, E., Meller, A., Raekallio, M. 2024. Effects of vatinoxan in rats sedated with a combination of medetomidine, midazolam and fentanyl. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 66(1), 23.