Premium
Comparison of pentobarbital‐phenytoin alone vs propofol prior to pentobarbital‐phenytoin for euthanasia in 436 client‐owned dogs
Author(s) -
Bullock Jessica M.,
Lanaux Travis M.,
Shmalberg Justin W.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of veterinary emergency and critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.886
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1476-4431
pISSN - 1479-3261
DOI - 10.1111/vec.12813
Subject(s) - propofol , medicine , anesthesia , phenytoin , adverse effect , pentobarbital , incidence (geometry) , epilepsy , physics , psychiatry , optics
Abstract Objective To report the incidence of adverse events during euthanasia of client‐owned dogs administered either intravenous pentobarbital/phenytoin (PP) or PP after propofol delivery. Design/Setting Prospective, observational, multi‐site study. Animals Four hundred thirty‐six dogs undergoing client‐elected euthanasia over a 1‐year period. Interventions Interventions included placement of an IV catheter and delivery of euthanasia agents (PP for the PP group, propofol followed by PP for the propofol group). Seven pre‐determined adverse events were recorded: agonal breaths, urination, defecation, vocalization, muscle activity, dysphoria, and catheter complications. Euthanasia scores for each patient were defined as the sum of all adverse events (0–7) the patient exhibited. Measurements and Main Results Two hundred thirty‐six dogs were in the PP group and 200 dogs were in the propofol group. No significant differences were detected in the dose of PP administered (166.9 ± 105.6 mg/kg for PP group, 182.6 ± 109.8 mg/kg for propofol group). Propofol dogs received 4.5 ± 2.9 mg/kg propofol. The incidence of ≥ 1 adverse event was 35.2% in the PP group and 26.5% in the propofol group ( P = 0.052). Mean euthanasia scores (0.47 PP group, 0.32 propofol group) were not significantly different ( P = 0.08). Propofol significantly reduced the incidence of muscle activity (6% vs. 14%, odds ratio 0.39; P = 0.0079). Conclusions There was no difference in the likelihood of the studied adverse events during client‐elected euthanasia in dogs when propofol was used prior to PP. There was a significant reduction in perimortem muscle activity if propofol was given prior to PP.