DEXMEDETOMIDINE IN DOGS AND CATS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This narrative review aimed to gather and discuss evidence on dexmedetomidine in dogs and cats, covering its mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, administration routes, doses, clinical effects, adverse events and pharmacological reversal. PubMed, SciELO and ScienceDirect were consulted, prioritizing original articles and reviews published between 2015 and 2026, alongside earlier foundational works. Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist that produces sedation, analgesia and reduced requirements for other anesthetics. The intensity and duration of its effects depend on dose, administration route and drug combinations. The main adverse effects include bradycardia, blood pressure changes, reduced cardiac output, respiratory changes, hyperglycemia, polyuria, hypothermia and emesis. Differences between species should be interpreted considering the heterogeneity of protocols and assessment methods. Its use therefore requires careful patient selection, individualized protocols and continuous monitoring. Reversibility with atipamezole does not eliminate hemodynamic risks or the need for alternative analgesia after antagonism. These considerations are relevant when interpreting the available evidence and planning sedation and multimodal analgesia in small animal practice.