Comparison of intratesticular and intramuscular administration of zolazepam-tiletamine combination on sedation, induction, and recovery qualities and vital variables in cats undergoing castration: a prospective, randomized, clinical study.

This study was aimed to compare the effects of intratesticular (IT) and intramuscular (IM) administration of the zolazepam-tiletamine (ZT) combination on sedation, induction, and recovery qualities and vital variables in cats undergoing castration. Fourteen clinically client-owned healthy cats were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/kg ZT by either IT or IM routes. Temperament score, injection reaction score, induction time, intubation time, surgical length, anesthesia time, recovery time, and full recovery time were evaluated. Sedation score, heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (f), peripheral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and rectal temperature (RT) variables were assessed at baseline (T0), T5, T10, T15, and T30. Median temperament score and injection reaction score were not different between groups. Induction time was significantly (p = 0.0244) shorter for the IT group (142.6 ± 29.9) than IM (290 ± 48.7 seconds). Length of anesthesia was longer in the IM group (median 290; ranged 120-540 minutes) than the IT group (median 140; ranged 98-180 minutes) (p = 0.0279). Time to standing and time to full recovery were significantly shorter in IT than IM. A recovery quality score did not significantly differ between groups (p = 0.2268). No statistically significant differences were detected between IT and IM administration regarding sedation score, HR, SpO, MAP, and RT. The IT administration of 10 mg/kg ZT induces shorter onset of sedation and recovery time than IM administration, thereby it can be suggested for cats undergoing castration. Both administration routes produce effective sedation with limited physiological changes in anesthesia variables.