Summary
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to quantify by accelerometry the trotting pattern
of adult horses sedated with two different doses of acepromazine, in order to assess
the use of this drug in equine lameness evaluations.
Methods: Seven mature horses were used and three treatments were administered to each horse:
saline solution, acepromazine (0.01 mg/kg), and acepromazine (0.02 mg/ kg). The portable
gait analyzer used consisted of three orthogonal accelerometers that measure accelerations
along the dorso -ventral, longitudinal, and lateral axes. Baseline values were obtained
and after treatment, accelerometric recordings were repeated every five minutes during
the first 20 minutes after the injection and then every 10 minutes thereafter for
two hours. Ground-tolip distance was also measured.
Results: Administration of acepromazine decreased some of the variables investigated and differences
between doses were observed. Speed, stride frequency, and stride length were significantly
reduced following treatments. For coordination parameters, no significant differences
among values were observed. Energetic variables suffered only weak reductions whereas
ground-to-lip distance values were significantly decreased up to 120 minutes after
treatment.
Clinical significance: Acepromazine produces significant alterations in the gait pattern with differences
between doses, but it does not affect coordination variables in normal unexcited horses,
and at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg may be the tranquilizer of choice for evaluating lameness
in this setting.
Keywords
Horse - lameness - acepromazine - accelerometry
