Abstract
This study evaluated the comparative effects of Acepromazine-Butorphanol and Acepromazine-Buprenorphine premedicants in Propofol-Isoflurane anaesthesized Nigerian indigenous dogs. Using a prospective cross-over blinded clinical study, six adult Nigerian indigenous dogs were randomly selected for two trials with one week ‘wash out’ period between each trial. Trial I and Trial II were premedicated with Acepromazine+Butorphanol (0.04mg/kg IM + 0.3mg/kg IM) and Acepromazine+Buprenorphine (0.04mg/kg IM + 0.03mg/kg IM) respectively. Anaesthesia was induced in the two trials with Propofol (4mg/kg IV) and maintained with Isoflurane 2% in 2 liters of Oxygen. Cardiopulmonary parameters were recorded at 15minute intervals for 180 minutes. Anaesthetic indices, analgesia and side effects of the drugs were also observed. The study showed no significant alterations (p>0.05) in the anaesthetic indices of dogs in the two protocols. There were significant increases in heart and pulse rates at 45min post premedication in Acepromazine-Buprenorphine compared to Acepromazine-Butophanol. Hypotension was observed in Acepromazine-Buprenorphine premedicated dogs with no-significant decrease in MAP from 60 minutes post premedication. The degree of analgesia achieved with Acepromazine-Butorphanol was moderate while that of Acepromazine-Buprenorphine trial was mild. It was concluded that, either Butorphanol or Buprenorphine can be used in combination with Acepromazine for premedication in Nigerian indigenous dogs. However, Acepromazine-Butorphanol combination appears to be a better choice of neuroleptanalgesic premedicant in dogs due to its anaesthetic advantage.

Key words: Isoflurane, Neurolept-analgesic, Nigerian breed of dogs, Propofol