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One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
Choose one species for its overview and dose calculator, or all species to browse the full evidence.
Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Anesthetic INDUCTION — alternative to thiopental/propofol, especially: preexisting cardiac dysfunction, head trauma, critically ill
DogCatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Anesthetic INDUCTION — alternative to thiopental/propofol, especially: preexisting cardiac dysfunction, head trauma, critically ill — Extra-label (human drug; NOT controlled)
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Anesthetic INDUCTION — alternative to thiopental/propofol, especially: preexisting cardiac dysfunction, head trauma, critically ill — Extra-label (human drug; NOT controlled)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens3
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects10
Adrenocortical suppression (cortisol synthesis blockade — even single dose; dose-duration dependent) — The signature adverse — supplement glucocorticoids in critically ill patients; induction-only use
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Myoclonus/twitching, vomiting — Reduced by pre-medication
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pain on injection (propylene glycol vehicle), hemolysis with high volumes — Vehicle effects
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
No analgesia — By design
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Death1 reports
- Seizure NOS1 reports
Cat
- Decreased respiratory rate1 reports
- Haemolysis NOS1 reports
- Muscle rigidity1 reports
- Twitching1 reports
Monitoring1
Clinical: BP/ECG through induction (its showcase), adrenal consideration in ICU follow-up (cortisol if deteriorating post-anesthesia)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Hypersensitivity
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions4
Impaired adrenocortical function; NOT for maintenance/CRI (adrenal suppression accumulates); MH-susceptible patients (may speed onset if another trigger present)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The cardiac patient's induction drug: blood pressure preserved when propofol/thiopental would tank it — and the head-trauma patient's choice (↓ICP/CMRO₂) — paid for with a blocked adrenal axis.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Single-induction-dose cortisol suppression is real but transient; the rule "induction only, never infusion" is how the class earned its safety reputation (human ICU infusions caused adrenal crises historically).
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
TI 16 vs 3–5 for propofol/thiopental — the exam-friendly safety-margin trio.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions2
Other anesthetics/CNS depressants — Additive, dose-sparing
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Glucocorticoids — Deliberate supplementation in critical illness
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics5
Mechanism — (GABAergic, imidazole IV anesthetic) — minimal hemodynamic effect, little respiratory impact
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
CNS profile — ↓ cerebral blood flow + ↓ O₂ consumption; ↓ICP; usually ↓IOP — the head-trauma logic
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Therapeutic index 16 — vs propofol 3, thiopental 5
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Duration — Hypnosis 3–5 min; recovery like thiopental, slower than propofol; hepatic hydrolysis/glucuronidation, t½ 1.25–5 h (human)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Comparison — vs propofol (dogs): higher MAPs preserved but longer/poorer recoveries (Sams 2008)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Anesthetic context; no specific monograph restriction.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 496–497 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references19
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Anaesthetic management and clinical outcomes of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in dogs with severe pulmonic stenosis: a retrospective study (2024-2025).
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- The influence of anaesthesia drugs on puppy vitality after caesarean section: a systematic review.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- The effect of midazolam co-induction on cardiorespiratory variables, myoclonus and etomidate dose requirements in healthy cats.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Anesthetic management and anesthesia-related complications in dogs with a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype: a retrospective study of 30 dogs (2010-2024).
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- In silico modelling of stroke volume, cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance in cardiovascular safety pharmacology studies by telemetry.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.