Etomidate/Alfentanil Anaesthesia in Dogs and Its Effects on Pulse Oxymeter, Electrocardiography and Haematological Parameters*

In this study, the anaesthetic effects and reliability of the combination of etomidate, which is a non-barbiturate injectable anaesthetic, and alfentanil, which is a strong narcotic analgesic, in anaesthesia induction in dogs were investigated. Twenty dogs were used in this study. Following intramuscular administration of atropine at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg, diazepam was given intravenously at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg. Following tranquillisation, etomidate at a dose of 2mg/kg and alfentanil at a dose of 0.02mg/kg were injected intravenously. With this anaesthetic protocol, anaesthesia lasting approximately 15 min was produced. When haematological parameters (haemogram and ALT, AST, BUN, TP, GLU, Na, K) at minutes 0 and 10 were compared, no significant change was determined exceeding normal physiological limits during anaesthesia. In the electrocardiographical examination, while no significant arrhythmia was encountered during anaesthesia, neither did hypoxemia develop in the oxygen saturation data. In conclusion, this combination can be relied on both for the induction of anaesthesia and for brief surgical procedures in dogs.