PROPOFOL INFUSION ANAESTHESIA IN DOGS

Studies were carried out on 40 dogs premedicated with acepromazine (0.05 mg kg^-1), and atropine (0.02 mg kg^-1) to determine the minimum infusion rate of propofol needed to maintain anaesthesia and to compare the quality of the anaesthesia with that produced by halothane/nitrous oxide/oxygen. An infusion rate of 0.4 mg kg^-1 min^-1 of propofol produced surgical anaesthesia in dogs breathing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air. Cardiovascular and respiratory effects were similar to those in dogs anaesthetized with halothane/nitrous oxide and with both anaesthetic regimes myocardial oxygen consumption appeared to increase with increasing duration of anaesthesia. Propofol infusion was associated with a 16 per cent incidence of vomiting in the recovery period. Maintenance of anaesthesia in healthy dogs by the continuous infusion of propofol appeared to be safe but less satisfactory than the use of halothane/nitrous oxide.