Acepromazine is a generic medication approved for use in veterinary medicine as a tranquilizer for dogs, and veterinarians also prescribe it for cats. People often administer the medication to dogs to prevent car sickness, because it relieves both anxiety and nausea. A phenothiazine neuroleptic, acepromazine is often administered before anesthesia because it sedates the animal and can prevent vomiting. Another use is for calming anxious animals during examinations and treatment. Available in tablets and as an injectable solution, acepromazine is considered safe, but there are possible side effects, some of which are dangerous.
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Tranquilizing Effects
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The most common side effects relate to the tranquilizing nature of acepromazine. The drug can cause animals to become lethargic and relaxed. Some become uncoordinated or walk unsteadily. Pet owners should notify the veterinarian if any of these effects are prolonged or severe. Typically, the third eyelids of cats and dogs will appear, which is unimportant. Additionally, acepromazine may lower body temperature, and can turn urine pink.
Hypotension
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Acepromazine can cause hypotension, or low blood pressure, because it dilates blood vessels. In some animals, this effect can increase heart rate, so people might want to avoid using acepromazine for animals with heart disease. Cardiovascular side effects in animals with heart disease can be severe, including cardiac arrest or slow pulse or respiration. They might have pale gums. Animals may become unconscious, which can happen suddenly. In addition, animals receiving drugs for high blood pressure, such as beta blockers, should not take acepromazine.
Blood Count
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Dilated blood vessels create increased red blood cell storage in the spleen, causing a drop in red cell count, so animals with anemia should not take acepromazine. Animals that have experienced blood loss should not receive this drug.
Exaggerated Effects
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Acepromazine can have exaggerated effects in certain animals, including those that are elderly or that have a debilitating condition. It should be avoided in animals with liver disease, because acepromazine is removed by the liver, and a low-functioning liver means a prolonged tranquilization effect. Additionally, acepromazine lowers the seizure threshold in dogs and cats, which means it should not be used in pets with epilepsy. Animals that are in shock or dehydrated should not have acepromazine administered, because of the hypotension effect.
Breed Considerations
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Certain dog breeds are particularly sensitive to the effects of acepromazine, which makes the drug dangerous to them. These include greyhounds, salukis, whippets, wolfhounds and other sighthounds, as well as boxers. Although veterinarians still prescribe acepromazine for boxers, pet owners must consider the rare but possible adverse reactions, which may be fatal, such as a sharp decrease in respiration or heart rate.
Drug Interactions
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Certain drugs interact with acepromazine. These include anti-diarrhea medications, antacids, quinidine, narcotics, barbiturates, epinephrine and others. Rarely, animals have died as a result of acepromazine interacting with anesthesia. Acepromazine can interact with organophosphate insecticides, which may be included in flea collars, flea dips or deworming medication.
Aggression
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Rare reports have been made of pets becoming aggressive while under the influence of acepromazine. Veterinarians consider this possibility when the drug is used to calm a dog or cat before an examination or vaccination. Additionally, dogs and cats receiving acepromazine should be supervised when in the same area with young children or vulnerable pets.
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