Effect of Dexmedetomidine Low Doses with or without Midazolam in Cats: Clinical, Hemodynamic, Blood Gas Analysis, and Echocardiographic Effects

Table 1

Simple descriptive analysis of sedation, muscle relaxation, and analgesia in felines.

Sedation evaluation	Escore
Posture and stability	0–6
Lateral recumbence, incapable of standing. Looks sleepy and not easily woken with little stimulation.	6
Lateral recumbence, incapable of standing. Looks awake or if sleepy can easily be woken up with small stimulation. Occasionally makes small movements, but it is not capable of keeping its head up.	5
Lateral recumbence or sternal, but occasionally stands up or after stimulation. Looks tired, and can walk, but does not want to. Stays ataxic or moderately ataxic.	4
Its capable of standing up or walking more than 5 meters with moderate or light ataxia.	3
Walks with slight or none ataxia is able to run.	2
Walks and runs almost normally, with no signs of ataxia, or slight signs of weakness.	1
Walks and runs normally.	0
Resistance to be put in lateral recumbence	0–3
No resistance	3
Little resistance	2
Moderate resistance	1
Strong resistance	0
Resistance to stretching the hind limbs without clamping	0–3
No resistance	3
Little resistance	2
Moderate resistance	1
Strong resistance	0
Resistance to stretching the knees	0–2
No resistance	2
Little resistance	1
Strong resistance	0
Reaction to clapping	0–3
No reaction	3
Little reaction	2
Moderate reaction	1
Strong reaction	0
Degree of mandibular relaxation/mandibular resistance/ability to open the mouth	0–2
No resistance	2
Possible, but hard	1
Strong resistance, impossible	0
Total sedation	0–19
Nociceptive answer	Escore
Interdigital clamping	0–5
Little intensity of clamping and there is already withdrawal response.	0
A lot of clamping intensity (clamp locking) and there is withdrawal response.	3
No withdrawal response even with high-intensity clamping (clamp lock).	5
Tail clamping	0–5
Little intensity of clamping and there is already withdrawal response.	0
A lot of clamping intensity (clamp locking) and there is withdrawal response.	3
No withdrawal response even with high-intensity clamping (clamp lock).	5
Skin clamping	0–5
Little intensity of clamping and there is already withdrawal response.	0
A lot of clamping intensity (clamp locking) and there is withdrawal response.	3
No withdrawal response even with high-intensity clamping (clamp lock).	5
Total of nociceptive evaluation:	0–15
Muscular relaxation	Escore
Very well relaxed.	2
Moderately well relaxed.	1
Not relaxed, normal	0

Modified from Ansah et al.