For intravenous use
Induction of anaesthesia (dogs, cats and pet rabbits):
The induction dose of the veterinary medicinal product is based on data taken from controlled laboratory and field studies and is the amount of drug required for 9 of 10 patients (i.e. 90th percentile) to be successfully induced for anaesthesia.
Dosing recommendations for induction of anaesthesia are as follows:
| DOGS | CATS | RABBITS |
| Un-premedicated | Premedicated | Un-premedicated | Premedicated | Un-premedicated | Premedicated |
mg/kg | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
ml/kg | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
In dogs, cats and rabbits, an intravenous catheter should be used to administer the product (please refer to contra-indications, warnings etc).
The dosing syringe should be prepared to contain the above dose. Administration should continue until the clinician is satisfied that the depth of anaesthesia is sufficient for endotracheal intubation, or until the entire dose has been administered. The necessary injection rate can be achieved by administration of one quarter (¼) of the calculated dose every 15 seconds, so that the total dose, if required, would be administered over the first 60 seconds. If, 60 seconds after complete delivery of this first induction dose, intubation is still not possible, one further similar dose may be administered to effect.
Maintenance of anaesthesia (dogs and cats):
Following induction of anaesthesia with the veterinary medicinal product, the animal may be intubated and maintained on the veterinary medicinal product or an inhalation anaesthetic agent. Maintenance doses of the veterinary medicinal product may be given as supplemental boluses or as constant rate infusion. The veterinary medicinal product has been used safely and effectively in dogs and cats for procedures lasting for up to one hour. The following doses suggested for maintenance of anaesthesia are based on data taken from controlled laboratory and field studies and represent the average amount of drug required to provide maintenance anaesthesia for a dog or cat. However, the actual dose will be based on the response of the individual patient.
Dosing recommendations for maintenance of anaesthesia are as follows:
| DOGS | CATS |
| Un-premedicated | Premedicated | Un-premedicated | Premedicated |
Dose for constant rate infusion |
mg/kg/hour | 8 - 9 | 6 - 7 | 10 - 11 | 7 - 8 |
mg/kg/minute | 0.13 – 0.15 | 0.10 – 0.12 | 0.16 – 0.18 | 0.11 – 0.13 |
ml/kg/minute | 0.013 – 0.015 | 0.010 – 0.012 | 0.016 – 0.018 | 0.011 – 0.013 |
Bolus dose for each 10 minutes maintenance |
mg/kg | 1.3 – 1.5 | 1.0 – 1.2 | 1.6 – 1.8 | 1.1 – 1.3 |
ml/kg | 0.13 – 0.15 | 0.10 – 0.12 | 0.16 – 0.18 | 0.11 – 0.13 |
Where maintenance of anaesthesia is with the veterinary medicinal product for procedures lasting more than 5 to 10 minutes, a butterfly needle or catheter can be left in the vein, and small amounts of the veterinary medicinal product injected subsequently to maintain the required level and duration of anaesthesia. In most cases the average duration of recovery when using the veterinary medicinal product for maintenance will be longer than if using an inhalant gas as a maintenance agent.