Sedation Recommendations for Echocardiograms
IV/IM Administration
Start with butorphanol at 0.3 mg/kg administered IV or IM. If additional sedation is needed, add acepromazine. For fractious patients, a butorphanol-alfaxalone combination is effective.
- Butorphanol: 0.2 - 0.5 mg/kg
- Generally 0.3 mg/kg for most patients
- Acepromazine: 0.01 - 0.05 mg/kg
- Alfaxalone: 2.0 - 4.0 mg/kg
- Titrate to effect
- Midazolam: 0.25 mg/kg
- Gabapentin: 5 - 30 mg/kg PO one hour prior to exam
- Especially effective in felines
- Trazodone: 3 - 5 mg/kg PO one hour prior to exam
Start with butorphanol at 0.3 mg/kg administered IV or IM. If additional sedation is needed, add acepromazine. For fractious patients, a butorphanol-alfaxalone combination is effective.
