ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate the sedative effects of different doses of acepromazinexylazine combinations with or without atropine in dogs. One hundred and twenty dogs of various breeds and both sexes were used in a prospective randomized, blinded clinical study. Dogs, presented to the Veterinary Clinic for various diagnostic and surgical procedures, were randomly divided into four groups (n=30/group) and received the following drug combinations intramuscularly: Group AX: acepromazine (0.05 mg kg-1) + Xylazine (0.5 mg kg-1), Group AXA: Acepromazine (0.05 mg kg-1) + Xylazine (0.5 mg kg-1) + Atropine (0.04 mg kg-1) Group LA-HX: Acepromazine (Low dose: 0.03 mg kg-1) + Xylazine (High dose: 0.8 mg kg-1), Group HA-LX: Acepromazine (High dose: 0.08 mg kg-1) + Xylazine (Low dose: 0.3 mg kg-1). Heart and respiratory rates, electrocardiogram and rectal temperature were recorded before drug injection (baseline) and during maximum sedation. Sedation was scored using descriptive categories. Heart rate signifi cantly decreased from the baseline following sedation in the AX, LA-HX and HA-LX groups. A signifi cant reduction in respiratory rate was observed in all treatment groups. The median sedation score did not differ signifi cantly between the groups; however, the quality of sedation was enhanced when atropine was added to the acepromazine-xylazine combination and a higher number of dogs were assigned score 3 in AXA group. No adverse effects were recorded during the study. The acepromazine-xylazine combination, particularly with atropine, can be used effectively for sedation and premedication before general anaesthesia in healthy dogs.

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