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Xylazine HCl Injection 20 mg/mL Indications
Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) should be used in dogs and cats when it is desirable to produce a state of sedation accompanied by a shorter period of analgesia. Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) has been used successfully as follows:
1. Diagnostic procedures-examination of mouth and ears, abdominal palpation, rectal palpation, vaginal examination, catheterization of the bladder and radiographic examinations.
2. Orthopedic procedures, such as application of casting materials and splints.
3. Dental procedures.
4. Minor surgical procedures of short duration such as debridement, removal of cutaneous neoplasms and suturing of lacerations.
5. To calm and facilitate restraint of fractious animals.
6. Therapeutic medication for sedation and relief of pain following injury or surgery.
7. Major surgical procedures:
a. When used as a preanesthetic to general anesthesia.
b. When used in conjunction with local anesthetics.
Xylazine HCl Injection 20 mg/mL Dosage And Administration
1. Dosage - Intravenously-0.5 mL/20 lbs. body weight (0.5 mg/lb.)
Intramuscularly or Subcutaneously-1 mL/20 lbs. body weight (1 mg/lb.)
In large dogs (over 50 lbs.), a dosage of 0.5 mg/lb. administered intramuscularly may provide sufficient sedation and/or analgesia for most procedures.
Since vomiting may occur (see SIDE EFFECTS), fasting for 6-24 hours prior to the use of Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) may reduce the incidence; the I.V. route results in the least vomiting.
Following injection of Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine), the animal should be allowed to rest quietly until the full effect has been reached.
These dosages produce sedation which is usually maintained for 1 to 2 hours and analgesia which lasts for 15 to 30 minutes.
2. Preanesthetic to Local Anesthesia - Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) at the recommended dosages can be used in conjunction with local anesthetics, such as procaine or lidocaine.
3. Preanesthetic to General Anesthesia - Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine), at the recommended dosage rates, produces an additive effect to central nervous system depressants such as pentobarbital sodium, thiopental sodium and thiamylal sodium. Therefore, the dosage of such compounds should be reduced and administered to the desired effect. In general, 1/3 to 1/2 of the calculated dosage of the barbiturates will be needed to produce a surgical plane of anesthesia. Post-anesthetic or emergence excitement has not been observed in animals preanesthetized with Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine).
Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) has been used successfully as a preanesthetic agent for pentobarbital sodium, thiopental sodium, thiamylal sodium, nitrous oxide, ether, halothane and methoxyflurane anesthesia.
Side Effects
Emesis occurs occasionally in dogs, and frequently in cats, soon after the administration of Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine), but before clinical sedation is evident. When observed, emesis usually occurs only a single time, after which there is no further emetic effect. The use of antiemetics may delay this phenomenon. The occurrence of emesis may be considered a desirable effect when Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) is administered as a preanesthetic to general anesthesia.
Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) used at recommended dosage levels may occasionally cause slight muscle tremors, bradycardia with partial A-V heart block and a reduced respiratory rate. Should excessive respiratory depression occur following the use of Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine), administer respiratory stimulants and provide artificial respiration.
Movement in response to sharp auditory stimuli may be observed.
Increased urination may occur in cats following the use of Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine).
Precautions
Clinical results with xylazine have not revealed any detrimental effects when the compound is administered to pregnant dogs or cats. However, until more definitive studies are completed, Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) is not recommended for use in these animals.
Careful consideration should be given before administering to dogs or cats with significantly depressed respiration, severe pathologic heart disease, advanced liver or kidney disease, severe endotoxic or traumatic shock and stress conditions such as extreme heat, cold, or fatigue.
Analgesic effect is variable, and depth should be carefully assayed prior to surgical/clinical procedures. In spite of sedation, the practitioner and handlers should proceed with caution since defense reactions may not be diminished.
Do not use Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) in conjunction with tranquilizers.
Since an additive effect results from the use of Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) and the barbiturate compounds, it should be used with caution with these central nervous system depressants. Products known to produce respiratory depression or apnea, such as thiamylal sodium, should be given at a reduced dosage and, when injected intravenously, should be administered slowly.
When intravenous administration is desired, avoid perivascular injection in order to achieve the desired effect. Studies have shown negligible evidence of tissue irritation, however, following perivascular injection of xylazine.
Bradycardia and an arrhythmia in the form of incomplete atrioventricular block have been reported following xylazine administration. Although clinically the importance of this effect is questioned,1 a standard dose of atropine given prior to or following Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) will greatly decrease the incidence.
While sedation usually lasts from 1 to 2 hours, recovery periods in excess of 4 to 5 hours have been reported in both dogs and cats.
Safety
Xylazine HCl Injection (xylazine) is tolerated in dogs and cats at 10 times the recommended dose. However, doses of this magnitude produce muscle tremors, emesis and long periods of sedation.
Warning
This drug is for use in dogs and cats only.