THE USE OF PROPOFOL AS AN INDUCTION AGENT FOR HALOTHANE AND ISOFLURANE ANESTHESIA IN DOGS

Cardiovascular, pulmonary, and quantitative electroencephalographic pa rameters were assessed in 12 anesthetized dogs to determine the compat ibility of the injectable anesthetic propofol with halothane and isofl urane. No cases of apnea were observed during induction of anesthesia. An adequate level of anesthesia was established in each protocol as j udged by both the lack of response to mechanical noxious stimuli (i.e. , tail clamping) and evidence of reduction in total amplitude of brain wave activity. The initial propofol-mediated decrease in arterial blo od pressure continued during either halothane (52.4%) or isoflurane (3 8%) anesthesia without a simultaneous increase in heart rate. The resu lts of this study suggest that propofol, in combination with inhalant agents, can be used effectively and safely for canine anesthesia in ve terinary practice.