Effect of metoclopramide on nausea and emesis in dogs premedicated with morphine and dexmedetomidine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether subcutaneous (SC) metoclopramide (0.2 mg kg-1 ) administered 30 minutes prior to (T30) or simultaneously with (T0) intramuscular (IM) morphine (0.2 mg kg-1 ) and dexmedetomidine (0.003 mg kg-1 ) reduces the incidence of nausea and emesis in healthy dogs.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized and blinded study.

ANIMALS: A total of 45 dogs scheduled for elective procedures.

METHODS: Dogs were assigned randomly to three groups to be administered SC metoclopramide (0.2 mg kg-1 ) 30 minutes before (group M30) or simultaneously (group M0) to IM morphine (0.2 mg kg-1 ) and dexmedetomidine (0.003 mg kg-1 ). Dogs in the control group (group C) were administered SC saline at T30 and T0. Dogs were observed for 30 minutes after premedication to evaluate signs of nausea (continuous lip-licking and sialorrhoea) and emesis. Signs of pain or discomfort caused by SC injections were also recorded.

RESULTS: There were no statistical differences amongst groups for age, body weight and sex. More dogs developed continuous lip-licking in group C (12/15, 80.0%) compared to dogs in group M30 (1/15, 6.7%) and dogs in group M0 (5/15, 33.3%; p = 0.0001 and p = 0.01, respectively). More dogs developed sialorrhoea in group M0 (8/15, 53.3%) and in group C (10/15, 66.7%) compared to dogs in group M30 (2/15, 13.3%; p = 0.03 and p = 0.004, respectively). More dogs vomited in group M0 (4/15, 26.7%) and in group C (9/15, 60.0%) compared to dogs in group M30 (0/15, 0.0%; p = 0.05 and p = 0.0003, respectively). None of the dogs demonstrated signs of pain or discomfort during SC metoclopramide injection.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Subcutaneous metoclopramide at 0.2 mg kg-1 may reduce IM morphine and dexmedetomidine-induced nausea and emesis if administered 30 minutes in advance. It is effective in reducing lip-licking even when administered concurrently with IM morphine-dexmedetomidine.