The anesthetic effects of 1:1, volume to volume mixture of propofol (1%) and thiopental (2.5%) were evaluated in 10 hound dogs weighing between 15.2 and 33.3 kg. In a cross over study design, each dog received either propofol, thiopental, or a mixture of propofol-thiopental with one week apart until each dog received all three anesthetic agents. An initial dose of each anesthetic agent [propofol, 6 mg/kg; thiopental, 15 mg/kg; propofol-thiopental, 3 mg/kg (P) - 12.5 mg/kg (T)] was titrated to effect over 90 seconds. Intubation was attempted 30 seconds later. If the dog was not be able to be intubated at that time, additional anesthetic agent was given in increments at 10% of the initial dose until intubation was achieved. The dogs were then allowed to recover. All values are shown as mean ± SD. ANOVA was used for analysis and P value was set at 0.05. The dosage for propofol, thiopental, and propofol-thiopental were 5.4 ± 1.4, 14.6 ± 6.9, and 2.7 ± 1.1 (P) - 6.8 ± 2.8 (T) mg/kg, respectively. Noninvasive oscillometric blood pressure was measured at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 minutes. MAP was significantly lower in the propofol group (87.6 ± 12.8 mmHg) than either thiopental (102.5 ± 8.8 mmHg) or propofol-thiopental (100.1 ± 9.5 mmHg) group at 5 minutes after induction. Duration of endotracheal tube retention was similar among treatment groups. Duration of lateral recumbency was significantly longer with thiopental (21.7 ± 16.9 minutes) than with propofol (11.4 ± 2.5 minutes) or propofol-thiopental (11.1 ± 2.5 minutes) group. Time from induction to recover to walking normally was significantly longer with thiopental (44.6 ± 22.1 minutes) than with propofol (15.1 ± 3.1 minutes) or propofol-thiopental (20.3 ± 4.6 minutes). Induction quality was similar in all three groups, but recovery quality was worst in the thiopental group. It was concluded that the recovery quality of propofol-thiopental mixture was similar to propofol and better than thiopental in dogs.

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