Administration of Warmed Intravenous Fluids for Medetomidine-induced Hypothermia in Normal Dogs

The effects of warmed fluid therapy on medetomidine (MED)-induced hypothermia in normal dogs were evaluated. Animals were intramuscularly administered physiological saline solution (control) or 40 μg/kg of MED. At the same time, each treated dogs were intravenously administered 10 ml/kg/hr of Ringer's solutions at room temperature (RT) or after warming the fluids with either Animec (ANI) or Medi-Temp (MEDI) for 4 hours. In the MED-ANI group, the tendency to normalize hypothermia was observed, but no significant differences were recorded in rectal temperature between the MED-ANI and MED-RT groups. The results did not significantly support the reduction in MED-induced hypothermia by warmed fluids.