Propofol (P) is being used with increasing frequency as an induction and maintenance anesthetic agent for small animals. This study was undertaken to evaluate P compared to ketamine-xylazine (K-X) anesthesia in young foals. Twenty-two male, Thoroughbred foals aged 19-24 days and weighing 82-156 kg were premedicated with xylazine (1.1 ± 0.05 mg/kg IV, mean ± SD) and butorphanol (B, 0.01 ± 0.005 mg/kg IV) and induced with either P (2.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg IV) or K (2.2 ± 0.1 mg/kg IV). Responses to surgical stimulation were noted and additional P or K-X were administered as needed. ECG, indirect BP, SpO2 and RR were monitored. Duration of surgery and time from the end of surgery to sternal recumbency and standing were recorded. Tolazoline (T) was administered during recovery if a foal was aware but sedated. Unpaired student t-test were used to assess differences between groups (P < 0.05).

The 11 foals anesthetized with P were significantly younger than the 11 anesthetized with K. In both groups, marked sedation and ataxia accompanied a significant decrease in HR after X and B. Mean HR during P (73 ± 7 beats/minute) was significantly greater than that during K-X (62 ± 6 beats/minute). At 6 and 9 minutes after induction, mean BP was significantly less with P (106 ± 18 mmHg) than with K-X (127 ± 16 mmHg). Additional P (total = 3.4 ± 0.7 mg/kg IV) or K-X [0.7 ± 0.3 mg/kg IV (K) - 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/kg IV (X)] was administered to all foals. Nine foals in the P group and all 11 foals in the K/X group responded during castration. Mean times to sternal recumbency and standing were significantly shorter after P (10.5 ± 3.5 and 12.3 ± 3.6 minutes) than after K/X (16.2 ± 6.2 and 19.7 ± 8.6 minutes). Seven of the P foals were given significantly less T (0.4 ± 0.4 mg/kg IV) than 9 of the K/X foals (0.8 ± 0.5 mg/kg IV) at 25.0 ± 1.4 and 25.4 ± 2.5 minutes after premedication with X, respectively. T was given to the K/X foals 16.9 ± 2.1 minutes after the last administration of X. For young foals, propofol can be used to produce anesthesia that is comparable to that of ketamine/xylazine.

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