• Dexmedetomidine
• dog
• dysphoria
• locoregional anesthesia
• recovery
• ropivacaine
• sepsis

The objective of this study was to develop three clinical studies having as the main subject the use of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia and intensive care in canine patients. The aim of the first study was to evaluate whether a continuous rate infusion of dexmedetomidine could prolong the analgesic effect of peripheral nerve blocks. The aim of the second study was to determine if a (CRI) of dexmedetomidine decreases vasopressor requirements in septic dogs undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.The purpose of the last study was to evaluate the quality of recovery from general anesthesia with the administration of two low doses of dexmedetomidine in canine patients. In the first study, the use of dexmedetomidine in orthopedic surgeries, resulted in a greater number of dogs in the NaCl group required fentanyl and vasopressors than did those in the DEX group. The duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly longer in the DEX group than in the NaCl group.In the second study the NaCl group received a significantly higher dose of norepinephrine than the DEX group. Mortality was significantly lower in the DEX group compared to the NaCl group. In the last study, the use of preventive dexmedetomidine in both groups receiving dexmedetomidine showed better recovery when compared to saline administration. From the results of the three studies it emerged that dexmedetomidine CRI at 1 μg/kg/h increases the duration of the block and reduces the requirement for intraoperative analgesics, compared to the use of NaCl. In septic patients, reduced the required dose of vasoactive drugs and improved the 28-day mortality rate. Finally, an intravenous bolus of 0.5 and 1 μg/kg administered during the recovery phase improves the quality of recovery in dogs.