Which alpha-2 agonist is approved in dog, cat, horse, elk, and deer and used for sedative, analgesic, anesthetic, and as an emetic, with 2% and 10% concentrations?

Which alpha-2 agonist is approved in dog, cat, horse, elk, and deer and used for sedative, analgesic, anesthetic, and as an emetic, with 2% and 10% concentrations?

• A. Sevoflurane
• B. Xylazine
• C. Edrophonium
• D. Oxymorphone

Answer: (B)

Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists produce sedation, analgesia, and often anesthesia by dampening sympathetic outflow in the brain and spinal cord. The drug that fits all the described roles and species coverage is xylazine. It’s approved for use in dogs, cats, and horses and is also used in wildlife contexts to immobilize elk and deer. Clinically, xylazine provides sedation and analgesia and, when used as part of anesthetic protocols, contributes to analgesia and sedation. It can also act as an emetic in cats. The two common concentrations, 2% and 10%, are standard formulations for xylazine solutions, enabling appropriate dosing across species and applications. The other options do not share this profile: sevoflurane is an inhaled anesthetic, edrophonium is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and oxymorphone is an opioid analgesic, not an alpha-2 agonist.

Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists produce sedation, analgesia, and often anesthesia by dampening sympathetic outflow in the brain and spinal cord. The drug that fits all the described roles and species coverage is xylazine. It’s approved for use in dogs, cats, and horses and is also used in wildlife contexts to immobilize elk and deer. Clinically, xylazine provides sedation and analgesia and, when used as part of anesthetic protocols, contributes to analgesia and sedation. It can also act as an emetic in cats. The two common concentrations, 2% and 10%, are standard formulations for xylazine solutions, enabling appropriate dosing across species and applications. The other options do not share this profile: sevoflurane is an inhaled anesthetic, edrophonium is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and oxymorphone is an opioid analgesic, not an alpha-2 agonist.