Comparison of required induction dose, induction and recovery characteristics, and cardiorespiratory effects of co-administration of ketofol with diazepam and midazolam in healthy dogs

Background: Co-administration of anesthetics has been employed to decrease potential unpleasant effects associated with single drug. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of co-administration of ketofol with diazepam or midazolam in healthy dogs. METHODS: Six adult mix-breed male dogs were used. After sedation with acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg), anesthesia was induced with keteofol (KF; 1 ml contained 5 mg ketamine and 5 mg propofol), ketofol-diazepam (KFD), or ketofol-midazolam (KFM) (1 ml contained 5 mg KF and 2.5 mg diazepam or midazolam) randomly. All the dogs received the three treatments with at least one week interval. RESULTS: The total dose of ketofol used for induction of anesthesia in KF (4.2±0.44 mg/kg) was significantly higher than KFD (2.27±0.6 mg/kg) and KFM (1.68±0.25 mg/kg). The total dose of diazepam and midazolam used in KFD and KFM was 1.00±0.25 and 0.73±0.10 mg/kg, respectively (p>0.05). The time needed for sternal recumbency, standing position and normal walking was longer in KFD and KFM compared to KF (p