Effect of Xylazine, Detomidine, and Detomidine–Butorphanol Combination on Latencies of Peaks I–V of Brainstem Auditory–Evoked Responses in Horses

Abstract Literature reports on the effect of sedative and anesthetic drugs on the first five peaks of brainstem auditory–evoked responses (BAERs) are somehow contradictory. In particular, no data are available on the effect of sedatives on BAER in horses. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of sedation with xylazine, detomidine, and detomidine–butorphanol combination on latencies of BAER peaks in horses. The absolute peak latencies of waves I, II, III, and V and interpeak latencies (IPLs) I–III, III–V, and I–V obtained in nine Bardigiano horses without sedation and with each of the sedation protocols were statistically compared. A statistically significant ( P