Isoflurane is metabolised minimally in animals, mainly to inorganic fluoride, and almost all of the administered isoflurane is excreted unchanged by the lungs. Isoflurane produces general anaesthesia after inhalation and is a good muscle relaxant for surgical procedures. It has negligible analgesic properties and consideration should be given to the analgesic requirements of the patient before recovery from anaesthesia takes place.

In the dog and cat, isoflurane has been safely used for anaesthesia during Caesarean section. Reproduction studies have been performed in mice and rats and have provided no evidence of embryotoxicity, teratogenicity, or any other negative effect on reproduction performance attributable to isoflurane at clinically relevant conditions. However, full comprehensive data concerning the use of isoflurane in pregnant or lactating dogs, cats and horses have not been obtained.