This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Comparison of the Sedative and Cardiovascular Effects of Azaperone and Acepromazine in Dogs
by
, , , , and
Marco Antonio de Paz-Campos
1,
Lilia Gutiérrez-Olvera
2,
Héctor Salvador Sumano-López
2,
Graciela Tapia-Pérez
3,
José Antonio Ibancovichi-Camarillo
4,
Uriel López-Parrilla
5,
Williams Alexis Bernal-Palapa
5,
Regina Paola Hernández-Guzmán
6 and
Julio Raúl Chávez-Monteagudo
7,* 1
Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Hospital de Pequeñas Especies, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Cuautitlán Izcalli 54740, Mexico
2
Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
3
Departamento de Genética y Bioestadística, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
4
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, San Ángel 3886, Mercado de Abastos, Fraccionamiento San Benito, Culiacán 80260, Mexico
5
Maestría en Ciencias de la Producción y de la Salud Animal, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Hospital de Pequeñas Especies, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Cuautitlán Izcalli 54740, Mexico
6
Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Hospital de Pequeñas Especies, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Cuautitlán Izcalli 54740, Mexico
7
Departamento de Ciencias Pecuarias, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Hospital de Pequeñas Especies, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Cuautitlán Izcalli 54740, Mexico
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2026, 16(10), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16101522
Submission received: 16 February 2026
/
Revised: 25 April 2026
/
Accepted: 13 May 2026
/
Published: 15 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Companion Animals)
Simple Summary
The sedative effect of azaperone (a butyrophenone) at a dose of 1 mg/kg intramuscularly was studied and compared with that of acepromazine (a phenothiazine). In addition, the heart rate and systemic blood pressure of dogs under the effects of these sedatives were evaluated. It was observed that the sedative effect of azaperone was reached after 20 min without an effect on heart rate or hypotension.
Abstract
In this study, the degree and characteristics of sedation were assessed using the Grint scale for azaperone and acepromazine in 24 dogs, with the effects on heart rate and systemic blood pressure evaluated simultaneously using oscillometry. Posture, palpebral reflex, eye position, relaxation, response, postural resistance, attitude, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models to evaluate the effects of treatment, time, and their interaction. Significant effects of time were observed for all variables (p < 0.001), including systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure, whereas heart rate was not significantly affected by treatment. Based on these results, we conclude that azaperone produces moderate sedation at 20 min after administration, and it does not induce bradycardia or clinically significant hypotension.
Keywords:
sedation; dogs; azaperone; acepromazine; cardiovascular
