After reading the sad topic of the little westie that died after the vet prescribed ACP it set me thinking. My gsd recently had sedation and it took him 10 days to be back to himself together with a heart murmur that was heard while under sedation. This has since been checked out by blood test and listening while awake and al clear. Though to be reaction of being under sedation. Coincidentally my sisters gsd also had sedation for an aural washout and they had to bring her round very fast because she nearly died I gather her heart stopped
.
I have just checked and my dog had acp as a sedation  and I have asked my sister to check the same.
Is acp a problematic drug and could it be responsible for these problems ? I have suggested she speaks to her vet and suggests they use another drug in the fuitre if the need to put her dog under again, which they will due to the ear problems. Obviously they are quite scared now to let the vet do anything hat involves sedation but with the are  infected they feel they are catch 22
any thoughts or am I up the wrong tree ?

ACP tends to be used as a premed.  I often have sedation for the dogs for hip scoring which is totally different.

it was sedation for both dogs neither had a ga  it just seemed funny that both had problems and after what was said in the other thread I ma concerned for any future times

It is a sedative, but more for relaxing the muscles, (the animals remains mentally aware, which is the problem with fear) not what is now normally termed sedation Given by injection, more akin to anaesthetic) such as deep enough for main treatment

right I understand about the fear bit and cant say I am happy. In future I think I will ask the vet not to use . It was the heart problem that concerned me first as I have only just learned and now you have confirm the fear bit,  especially given that both of our dogs had aproblme. True it may be coincidence and I don't know yet what the other dog was given

A couple of links worth reading if anyone has any concerns about ACP. The second one is essential reading for Boxer owners.
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2009/october/acepromazine-why-im-not-big-fan-when-it-comes-sedation-ace-6937
http://www.jlhweb.net/ace.htm

I have been aware of risks to Boxers with ACP for many years - I always give out info sheet to puppy purchasers and also request no ACP on my Boxer notes at my vets.
The risks to Boxers are well documented it causes issues with their hearts hence why it's a big no no for them.

these two are gsd's just thought it was funny that both dogs had problems with their heart. One, my sisters so bad they nearly lost her I was luckier and just amummor under sedation now all clear . wanted to be fully aware for the future. My conclusion is yet another drug I am not happy with in this case more because it appears to externally givev you a calm dog but actually one who is fully aware as to what is happening and is therefore not calm at all. Its possible that the problem in my sisters dog was one that occurred because the dog maybe one of a low number that are sensitive to it and therefore I feel I would not want it used again for either dog.
Does that seem reasonable? 

furriefriends - this might be the answer to your question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acepromazine

Drug reaction in herding dogs

For over 20 years herding dogs have died from negative reactions to acepromazine that were rooted in genetic mutations. This reveals a lack of understanding about acepromazine, and other drugs with potentially toxic side effects. Scientists isolated the problem: the Multi Drug Resistant 1 (MDR1) gene. In addition, more than 30 potentially toxic drugs have been identified, and a lab test has been developed to identify dogs with the abnormal MDR1 gene. Three different factors are now recognized that contribute to drug toxicity especially common in herding dogs: a genetic mutation, drugs that inactivate normal cell pumps, and substances that inactivate cell enzymes so they cannot break down drugs.

In addition to having proteins on the membrane that remove drugs from the cell, most cells have enzymes that break down drugs and inactivate them. Cytochrome P 450 is a family of enzymes that inactivates about 60% of drugs used in pets. One of the CYP 450 family--CYP3A--can be blocked or inactivated by ketoconazole and by grapefruit juice. With CYP3A inactivated, drugs reach toxic concentrations within cells.

Dogs can have both the defective MDR1 gene and have inactivated CYP3A enzymes. These dogs are very likely to develop toxicity with certain drugs.
Breeds with MDR1 gene
Herding dogs: Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Collie, English Shepherd, German Shepherd, Old English Sheepdog, and Sighthounds.

Brilliant dogsbody ' yep that is helpful. I will tell my sister and I think as a precaution avoid !

very interesting,dogsbody100,thankyou .
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I bet my dogs were given acp as a sedative prior to operations-also my daughters little jack russell was given sedatives for fear of fireworks,and im sure i read at the time that they sedate the body, but the mind still feels all the fear,they certainly didnt help much. 
What worries me is,people do trust vets-and doctors-to have more knowledge than they have themselves.  I just havent the confidence or the knowledge-or memory!-to make alternative decisions for my dogs .That poor lady with the westie,my heart bleeds for her .
 

that they sedate the body, but the mind still feels all the fear

I can confirm this as DDs Rott had been given valium which worked ok for several years then Vet decided that 'we don't use it anymore' and gave her ACP........................Totally Horrendous!!!
an 8 st Rott whose body wouldn't obey the brain but the brain said 'get really wound up and hyper, leap around, bark etc'. ended up getting out a crate that was borderline too small to shut her in just to keep her semi still. even the next day she was 'out of it' and we had to stop her going near the stairs etc. She was also VERY stressed - panting etc and totally unresponsive to you talking to her.

poor girlxx

So sad.  Last year I had to take my elderly lab to emergency vet in Penrith we were on holiday at the time and she had a very sore pad,very young vet was on duty and said she will need to sedate her to have a good look.I was upset as my girl was in agony it was after 20 mins I thought why is there no support staff,after a while the vet brought her through she was staggering and kept falling over we lifted her in the car and I sat with her till she came around which was 6 hours I wondered afterwards has she been given this drug.

Sheila