CARE104.

01 Dog Anesthesia
The intent of this standard operating procedure (SOP) is to describe commonly used
methods to anesthetize dogs. This procedure is intended for use by CARE staff and
investigators who anesthetize dogs. This procedure is approved by the Cornell
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Cornell Center for
Animal Resources and Education (CARE). Any exemption must be approved by the
IACUC prior to its application.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Materials
3. Procedures
4. Safety
5. Contingencies
6. References
7. Appendices
Appendix 1 – Canine Tranquilizers, Sedatives, and Other Agents
Appendix 2 – Canine Injectable Anesthetics and Combinations
Appendix 3 – Canine Inhalation Anesthetics
Appendix 4 – Canine Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
Appendix 5 – Example of anesthetic protocol for laparotomy (e.g., spay)
Appendix 6 – Example of anesthetic protocol for dental prophylaxis
Appendix 7 – Conversion Table for Canine Weight in Kilograms to Body Surface
Area (m2)
______________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction
a. Consider factors that can affect the choice of anesthetics. These include:
i. Species, breed, age and relative size of the patient, health status and
concurrent medication, demeanor/disposition of patient, and presence
of pain or distress.
ii. Length and type of operation or procedure to be performed.
iii. Possible effect of the anesthesia on the scientific objectives of the
study.
iv. Special facilities and equipment required (e.g., volatile anesthetics).
v. Personal knowledge, experience, preference and skill with available
agents.
2. Materials
Note: Check the expiration dates on all drugs, as drugs may not be used past that
date, even for a non-survival procedure.
a. Sedatives and tranquilizers – See Appendix 1
b. Analgesics – See Appendix 1.
c. Anti-cholinergics – See Appendix 1
d. Injectable anesthetics – See Appendix 2
e. Inhalant anesthetics – See Appendix 3
f. Neuromuscular blockers (NMB)/Paralytics – See Appendix 4

3. Procedures (Pre, Intra, Post)

a. Pre-anesthesia
i. Perform a pre-anesthetic evaluation of the dog
1. Examine historical information, including the vendor health
record, and clinical and experimental history.
2. Perform a thorough physical exam.
3. Consider medical profiling, including a CBC, serum chemistries,
and parasitology screen, depending on the medical history,
physical exam, age of the dog, and type of procedure to be
performed.
ii. Fast dogs
1. Fast dogs over 10 weeks old or greater than 2 kg for 12 hours
prior to anesthesia to reduce the risk of aspiration of stomach
contents
2. Fast dogs less than 10 weeks of age or less than 2 kg for 2
hours prior to anesthesia.
3. Diseased animals will be accessed by veterinarian for case
specific anesthestic procedures.
iii. Intravenous catheter placement
1. Place an intravenous catheter to maintain venous access and
administration of intravenous fluids.

Note: EMLA cream can be applied and covered with plastic wrap (e.g., Saran®
wrap) over the previously clipped venipuncture site 30 minutes prior to placing the
catheter to anesthetize the area and reduce distress.

a. For peripheral vein access, use the cephalic or

saphenous veins.
b. If central vein access is required, place a jugular
catheter.
c. Administer 0.9% saline or Lactated Ringer’s Solution at
an average rate of 10 mL/kg/hour.

iv. Injections
1. Give intramuscular injections carefully to avoid damage to
nerves.
 2. Inject into the cranial thigh (quadriceps) or lumbar spinal epaxial
muscles unless limited by local pathology or implants.
3. If injecting into the caudal thigh muscles, direct the needle
posteriorly to avoid the sciatic nerve.
4. Administer subcutaneous injections in the interscapular region,
the lateral thoracic, and lumbar dorsal region.
b. Intra-anesthesia
i. Use of inhalant anesthetics for induction and/or maintenance of
anesthesia.
1. Use a tight-fitting mask or induction chamber for inhalant
induction of the patient. (Induction chambers can only be used
in small dogs.)
ii. Intubation
1. Following sedation by injectable anesthetics or inhalant agents,
place an appropriately sized endotracheal tube to maintain a
level plane of anesthesia.
2. The size of endotracheal tube used is determined by size of the
dog and anatomical differences in breeds and individuals.
iii. Monitoring
1. Continually monitor the patient during anesthesia and record
data at regular intervals. Minimal parameters include:
a. Depth of anesthesia (e.g. anal, pedal, and eye reflexes
and jaw tone).
b. Ventilation (e.g. visualization of chest wall and breathing
bag).
c. Circulation (e.g. auscultation of heart with
stethoscope/esophageal stethoscope or palpation of
peripheral pulse).
d. Other parameters that could be monitored include, but
are not limited to: further ventilation (e.g. capnography),
further circulation (e.g. invasive or noninvasive blood
pressure monitoring), temperature monitoring (e.g. rectal
thermometer), and oxygenation (e.g. pulse oximetry or
blood gas analysis).
c. Post-anesthesia
i. Extubate when swallowing reflex is observed.

Note: Use caution while extubating due to increased bite risk.

ii. Continuously monitor until extubated and then at regular intervals until
the patient can maintain itself in sternal position.
iii. Until ambulatory, isolate the animal in a warm and quiet area.
4. Safety
a. Use only anesthetic machine with valid certificate (<12 months).
b. Avoid vapors from volatile drugs such as anesthetics, by proper use of
scavenging equipment. Refer to CARE SOP 712: Waste Anesthetic Gas
Scavenging Systems.
c. Contact Cornell Environmental Health and Safety at http.ehs.cornell.edu or
255-8200 for concerns regarding the use of chemical agents and monitoring
of waste anesthetic gas.
d. Monitor the use of chemical agents and assure that product safety
recommendations are followed to protect the health and welfare of the
humans and animals that are exposed to the agents.Drugs that come under
the control of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) must be stored in a
double-locked cabinet in a secure area.
e. When working with animals wear appropriate PPE, observe proper hygiene,
and be aware of allergy, zoonosis, and injury risks. Refer to the CARE
Occupational Health and Safety webpage for more information.

5. Contingencies
a. Post contact information for emergency assistance in a conspicuous location
within the animal facility.
b. Emergency veterinary care is available at all times including after working
hours and on weekends and holidays through CARE (pager 1-800-349-2456).

6. References
a. Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals; Kohn, et al., Ed.; Academic
Press: New York, 1997.
b. Muir, et al. Handbook of Veterinary Anesthesia; Mosby: New York, 1995.
c. The University of Michigan, ULAM website, “Canine Anesthesia and
Analgesia Guidelines”.
http://www.ulam.umich.edu/sops/ULAM%20SOP%20Canine%20AnesthesiaS
ept2006.doc (accessed Aug. 2009)
d. University of Virginia Health System website, “Anesthesia and Analgesia”.
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/ccm/Anesth/aneshome.cfm
(accessed Dec. 2005).
e. Plumb, D.C. Veterinary Drug Handbook; Iowa State Press: Ames, Iowa, 1995.
f. Plumb, D.C. Veterinary Drug Handbook: Sixth Edition; Iowa State Press:
Ames, Iowa, 2008.
g. Harvey, R.C., et al. Anesthesia and Analgesia in Dogs and Cats and Ferrets.
In Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals (D.F. Kohn, S.K. Wixson,
W.J. White, and G.J. Benson, eds.), pp. 257-273. Academic Press, San
Diego, California, 1997.
h. CARE Occupational Health and Safety webpage.
http://www.research.cornell.edu/care/OHS.html
i. CARE SOP 712: Waste Anesthetic Gas Scavenging Systems:
http://www.research.cornell.edu/care/documents/SOPs/CARE712.pdf
______________________________________________________________________
Original author/date : Effective date : Review date : Referee SOP :
M. Martin Jan. 2006 August 2010 J. Spears CARE104.01
January 5, 2006

7. Appendicies

Appendix 1: Canine Tranquilizers, Sedatives, Analgesics, and Other Agents

a. Sedatives and tranquilizers

Use in the period prior to anesthesia to facilitate handling, reduce anxiety, provide
muscle relaxation, and to reduce the amount of anesthetic drugs needed to maintain an
adequate plane of anesthesia.
b. Analgesics
Analgesics must be administered in the preoperative period, before the painful stimuli.
Common analgesics are opioids, NSAIDs, ketamine and local anesthetics. They are
used in combination to provide optimal pain management.
c. Anti-cholinergics
Used to depress parasympathetic system for the purpose of improving intra-operative
heart rate and decrease pharyngeal secretions. The dose of atropine or glycopyrolate is
calculated but administer only if heart rate is low (<90 bpm). Glycopyrolate is preferred
in geriatric patients.

Note: Anti-cholinergics may also be used as a preanesthetic agent to prevent abnormal

heart rhythms and slowing of the heart rate.

Canine Tranquilizers, Sedatives, Analgesics, and Other Agents0F1

Drug Dose/Route1F2 Duration of Notes

Effect
Acepromazine 0.05–0.1 mg/kg IV, IM, 4 hours Moderate sedation, no
SQ analgesia, use with
(maximum 3 mg total caution in aged dogs
dose)
Acepromazine/ Acepromazine at 0.02- 15–60 minutes Moderate to heavy
Butorphanol 0.04 mg/kg IM analgesia and
Butorphanol at 0.2-0.4 sedation. Can be
mg/kg IM given IM as a mixed
solution.
Atropine 0.02–0.04 mg/kg IV, IM, 30–60 minutes Elevated heart rate
SQ may result
Buprenorphine 0.01–0.02 mg/kg IM, IV 6–12 hours Moderate analgesia
Hydromorphone 0.05-0.2 mg/kg IM, IV, 2–4 hours Moderate to high
SC analgesia High dose

1 References: Plumb, 1995, 2008; Harvey, 1997

2 IV = intravenous, IM = intramuscular, SQ= subcutaneous, PO = oral
 Canine Tranquilizers, Sedatives, Analgesics, and Other Agents0F1

range can cause

anxiety
Carprofen 4 mg/kg PO, SC 24 hours Moderate analgesia
Diazepam (Valium®) 0.2–0.4 mg/kg IV, IM 30–180 Sedative
minutes maximum 10 mg total
dose
Glycopyrrolate 0.01–0.02 mg/kg IM, 60–120 Elevated heart rate
SQ minutes may result Try half
dose first and monitor
for 5-10 minutes and
then administer to
effect
Midazolam (Versed) 0.2–0.4 mg/kg IV, IM <2 hours Mild sedative
Ketamine-Lidocaine Lidocaine 0.1 mg/mL Diluted in LRS or
infusion and 0.9% NaCl
Ketamine 0.06 mg/mL
At infusion rate:
10 mL/kg/hour
Xylazine (Rompun®) 0.4–0.9 mg/kg IM, SQ 30–60 minutes Sedative, analgesic -
0.1–0.5 mg/kg IV slowly avoid in sick or
debilitated animals-
reverse with
Yohimbine
Yohimbine (Yobine®) 0.2 mg/kg IV, slowly Xylazine reversal
agent

Tramadol 1-4mg/kg PO, q 8-12hrs Opioid, moderate

analgesia, oral dosing
only

IV = intravenous, IM = intramuscular, SQ= subcutaneous, PO = oral

Appendix 2: Canine Injectable Anesthetics and Combinations

a. The advantages are ease of administration, low cost, and lack of need for sophisticated
equipment. The major disadvantage is that once the drug is given, it is in the body until it
is metabolized or excreted. Use in the following circumstances:
i. Sole agents administered by single injection to induce a short period of restraint.
This allows minor, usually non-painful procedures, such as physical examination,
collection of blood and body fluids, radiology and ultrasound examination, to be
undertaken.
ii. As sole agents administered by repeated injection or continuous infusion to induce a
longer period of restraint. This facilitates longer procedures such as CAT, MRI or
provides deep sedation or unconsciousness for intensive care patients.
iii. To induce anesthesia prior to maintenance of anesthesia with inhalant anesthetics.
This is the most common use of injectable anesthetic drugs as it provides a smooth,
rapid induction of anesthesia and facilitates intubation.
iv. In combination with other injectable drugs to induce and maintain a state of general
anesthesia. Surgical anesthesia includes unconsciousness, muscle relaxation and
analgesia and the combination is referred to as total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).
v. As a supplement to inhalant anesthesia.

Canine Injectable Anesthetics and Combinations

Anesthetic Dose and Route Duration of Notes

Effect
Dexdetomidine 125-375 mg/m2 Dose dependent Dosage is based
(Dexdormitor) on body surface
area (see
Appendix 7 for
conversion);
reduced heart
rate; Use caution
if reversing with
atipamezole
Pentobarbital 20–30 mg/kg IV 30–45 minutes Long acting
Apnea may
result, observe
respiration
following
administration
Thiopental 8–12 mg/kg IV 15 minutes Short acting
Apnea may
result, observe
respiration
following
administration
Ketamine + 3 mg/kg Ketamine + 20 minutes May be mixed in
Diazepam (Valium) 0.3 mg/kg Diazepam IV same syringe,
laryngeal reflexes
preserved
 Canine Injectable Anesthetics and Combinations

Ketamine + 10 mg/kg Ketamine + 20 minutes May be mixed in

Midazolam 0.5 mg/kg Midazolam IV same syringe,
Laryngeal
reflexes
preserved
Ketamine + 2–4 mg/kg Ketamine IV + 10 minutes Minor procedures
Acepromazine 0.1 mg/kg Acepromazine
IV, IM
Propofol 2–8 mg/kg IV induction Until discontinued Apnea may
(dose to effect) result, observe
respiration
0.2–0.4 mg/kg/min IV
following
infusion
administration
Tiletamine + 6–12 mg/kg IM, SQ 20–30 minutes Good for
Zolazepam fractious dogs,
(Telazol®) but rough
recovery

IV = intravenous, IM = intramuscular, SQ= subcutaneous, PO = oral

Appendix 3: Canine Inhalation Anesthetics

a. Inhalation anesthesia has the advantages of rapid induction and recovery. Depth of
anesthesia can be rapidly changed.
b. Typically animals are initially anesthetized with an IV dose of injectable anesthetic (exs.
an ultrashort acting barbiturate, OR propofol, OR ketamine/valium (See Apendix 2), or
administered the inhalation agent by mask or by use of an induction chamber.

Canine Inhalation Anesthetics

Drug Dose and Route Duration of Notes
Effect
Halothane 5% induction Inhalant
2%–3% maintenance Until discontinued anesthetic
Isoflurane 5% induction Preferred
1%–3% maintenance Until discontinued Inhalant
anesthetic
Nitrous oxide 1:1 mixture of nitrous Until discontinued Use in
oxide to oxygen conjunction with
other inhalant
anesthetics
Appendix 4: Canine Neuromuscular Blockers (NMB)

Important: Carefully note the following prior to the use of NMBs:

a. Neuromuscular blocking agents are used as an adjunct to general anesthesia when a

level of muscle relaxation is required that cannot be achieved with anesthesia alone.
b. These agents do not render the animal unconscious; therefore are able to perceive pain.
Extreme care must be taken to ensure that a proper level of anesthesia and analgesia
are achieved prior to administering a neuromuscular blocking agent.
c. Monitor parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure throughout the procedure to
make sure that adequate anesthesia and analgesia are maintained.
d. It is essential that all animals receiving neuromuscular blocking agents be placed on a
ventilator.

Canine Neuromuscular Blockers

Drug Dose/Route Duration of Notes
Effect
2BSuccinylcholine 0.22 mg/kg IV 1–10 minutes Little effect on
heart rate and
blood pressure
Pancuronium 0.044 mg/kg IV 30–40 minutes Duration is dose
bromide dependant

IV = intravenous, IM = intramuscular, SQ= subcutaneous, PO = oralAppendix 5: Example of

anesthetic protocol for laparotomy (e.g., spay).
Preanesthetic
Drug Dose/Route Notes
3BEMLA Cream Topically over venipuncutre Cover plastic wrap (e.g.,
site for 30 minutes Saran® wrap) over the
venipuncture site
Acepromazine 0.05–0.1 mg/kg IM Mixed in same syringe
Buprenorphine 0.02 mg/kg IM Takes 30 minutes to reach
maximum effect
Carprofen 4 mg/kg SC

Install IV catheter and administer fluids at 10 mL/kg/hour with:

Drug Dose/Route Notes
Ketamine-Lidocaine infusion Lidocaine 0.1 mg/mL and Diluted in LRS or 0.9% NaCl
Ketamine 0.06 mg/mL
At infusion rate:
10 mL/kg/hour
Induction
Drug Dose/Route Notes
Ketamine + 3 mg/kg Ketamine +
Diazepam (Valium) 0.3 mg/kg Diazepam IV

Local anesthesia
Drug Dose/Route Notes
Bupivacaine 0.5% Local infiltration of incision
site, ~0.5 mL/kg

Maintenance
Drug Dose/Route Notes
Isoflurane 1.5%–4% inhalation Monitor closely at higher end
of range. Caution: Continued
4% inhalation can cause
cardiovascular collapse.

Post-op
Drug Dose/Route Notes
Buprenorphine 0.02 mg/kg IM q 6–12 hours
Carprofen 4 mg/kg q 24 hours for 3–5 Can be divided in 2 doses of
days 2 mg/kg q12h

IV = intravenous, IM = intramuscular, SQ= subcutaneous, PO = oral

Appendix 6: Example of anesthetic protocol for dental prophylaxis (no extraction/pain
expected).

Drug Dose/Route Notes

4BEMLA Cream Topically over venipuncutre Cover plastic wrap (e.g.,
site for 30 minutes Saran® wrap) over the
venipuncture site
Acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg IM Mixed in same syringe
Buprenorphine 0.01 mg/kg IM Takes 30 minutes to
reach maximum effect

Install IV catheter and administer fluids at 10 mL/kg/hour

Drug Dose/Route Notes

Propofol 2–8 mg/kg IV slowly to effect Apnea may result,
observe respiration
following administration

Drug Dose/Route Notes

Isoflurane 1.5%–4% inhalation Monitor closely at higher
end of range. Caution:
Continued 4% inhalation
can cause
cardiovascular collapse.

IV = intravenous, IM = intramuscular, SQ= subcutaneous, PO = oral

Appendix 7: Conversion Table for Canine Weight in Kilograms to Body Surface Area (m2)

The table is derived from the equation:

Approximate surface area in m2 = 10.1 x (weight in grams)2/3

1000

Weight in Kg m2 Weight in Kg m2
0.5 0.06 23 0.81
1 0.10 24 0.83
2 0.15 25 0.85
3 0.20 26 0.88
4 0.25 27 0.90
5 0.29 28 0.92
6 0.33 29 0.94
7 0.36 30 0.96
8 0.40 32 1.01
9 0.43 34 1.05
10 0.46 36 1.09
11 0.49 38 1.13
12 0.52 40 1.17
13 0.55 42 1.21
14 0.58 44 1.25
15 0.60 46 1.28
16 0.63 50 1.36
17 0.66 54 1.44
18 0.69 58 1.51
19 0.71 62 1.58
20 0.74 66 1.65
21 0.76 70 1.72
22 0.78 74 1.78