Evaluation of the perioperative stress response in dogs administered medetomidine or acepromazine as part of the preanesthetic medication

Abstract

Results indicate that for preanesthetic medications, medetomidine may offer some advantages over acepromazine with respect to the ability to decrease perioperative concentrations of stress-related hormones. In particular, the ability to provide stable plasma catecholamine concentrations may help to attenuate perioperative activation of the sympathetic nervous system.