Harriet Turner
Dexmedetomidine use in veterinary anaesthesia has been part of everyday clinical practice for decades, yet for many clinicians it remains one of the most debated and misunderstood aspects of modern anaesthetic protocols.
Concerns around bradycardia, blood pressure changes, patient selection and safety in older or compromised animals often lead to hesitation, underdosing or complete avoidance. Much of this apprehension stems not from current evidence, but from historical experiences with earlier alpha-2 agents and long-standing clinical myths.
In this specialist led webinar, Dr Abdur Rahmaan Kadwa, a European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia (Dipl. ECVAA) takes a clear, physiology first approach to dexmedetomidine — explaining why we see the cardiovascular effects we do, how they evolve over time and when the drug can be used safely and effectively in clinical practice.
Rather than a purely theoretical lecture, this session focuses on real world application, including:
- Why dexmedetomidine causes an initial rise in blood pressure with a drop in heart rate
- How baroreceptor reflexes explain the “two-phase” cardiovascular response
- The difference between dexmedetomidine and older agents such as xylazine
- Dose and route dependent effects clinicians should expect
- Practical implications for induction, maintenance, and recovery
- When reversal is (and isn’t) clinically indicated
By understanding the pharmacology and physiology behind the drug, clinicians can move beyond fear based decision making and Dexmedetomidine use in veterinary anaesthesia can be done with greater confidence — improving sedation quality, analgesia and overall anaesthetic stability.
Who is this webinar for?
- Veterinary surgeons using dexmedetomidine in everyday anaesthetic protocols
- Clinicians seeking a clearer understanding of cardiovascular effects and safety
- Teams looking to move beyond myth-based decision-making in anaesthesia
- Anyone wanting greater confidence and consistency when using alpha-2 agonists in practice
Access the full webinar on Dexmedetomidine use in veterinary anaesthesia
This post only scratches the surface of the clinical insight shared in this session. To watch the full webinar, pop your details into the form below and full access will be heading your way.
This webinar is part of F.E.T.C.H – VSA’s education platform for veterinary professionals, offering practical clinical guidance, specialist led webinars, journal clubs, downloadable resources and CPD aligned learning designed to support everyday practice.
Every case is a chance to grow and every anaesthetic choice matters.
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