The effect of butorphanol was investigated in six adult cats anesthetized with romifidine-tiletamine-zolazepam. Cats were given romifidine (40µg.kg-1) tiletamine (7mg.kg-1) and zolazepam (7mg.kg-1) (RTZ) intramuscularly, or RTZ and butorphanol (0.2mg.kg-1) (RTZB). Heart rate, respiratory rate, oscillometric systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure, oxihemoglobin saturation and rectal temperature were determined for 120 minutes and compared to baseline values. Anesthetic effects were evaluated using a score system. Time of induction, anesthesia and recovery were also determined for comparison. Induction time and anesthetic time were significantly longer in RTZB. In the RTZB group a significant decrease in respiratory rate was observed while in the RTZ group this was transitory. Heart rate did not change in the RTZ group until 60 minutes and decreased significantly in the RTZB group from the time of injection. It is concluded that RTZ is an effective anesthetic combination with minimal cardiovascular side effects and that addition of butorphanol to this combination prolongs the anesthetic time and induces analgesia for a longer period, but causes a decrease in heart and respiratory rate in cats.
romifidine; tiletamine-zolazepam; butorphanol; cats; anesthesia
