1)     RECOMMENDATIONS

a)      General Approach

i)        Maximize patient comfort by minimizing stress and pain

b)      Pre-anesthetic Medications

i)        Dog

(1)   Morphine – 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg (0.25 to 0.5 mg/lb) combined with acepromazine – 0.010 to 0.04 mg/kg (0.005 to 0.02 mg/lb) or medetomidine 0.005 to 0.015 mg/kg (0.0025 to 0.0075 mg/lb)

(2)   Hydromorphone – 0.1 to o.2 mg/kg (0.05 to 0.1 mg/lb) combined with Acepromazine – 0.02 to 0.06 mg/kg (0.01 to 0.03 mg/lb) or medetomidine 0.005 to 0.020 mg/kg (0.0025 to 0.010 mg/lb)

ii)       Cat

(1)   Butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg (0.1 mg/lb) combined with medetomidine 0.005 to 0.020 mg/kg (0.0025 to 0.010 mg/lb)

c)      Induction

i)        Many choices

(1)   Ketamine & valium, propofol, thiopental, telazol

d)      Maintenance

i)        Halothane

ii)       Isoflurane

iii)     Sevoflurane

e)      Support

i)        IV fluids are recommended for any anesthetized patient

2)     PRECAUTIONS

a)      Pre-anesthetic Medications

i)        Avoid acepromazine or use low end doses if history of seizure activity

(1)   See Acepromazine listing under individual drugs for more information

b)      Induction

i)        Avoid ketamine if history of seizure activity

c)      Maintenance

i)        Nothing specific

d)      Support

i)        Watch these patients closely – it is often the patient you least expect to be a problem that ends up being the surprise fatality