Comparative pharmacokinetics and anesthetic effects of methohexital, pentobarbital, thiamylal, and thiopental in Greyhound dogs and non-Greyhound, mixed-breed dogs.

Abstract

Pharmacokinetics and duration of anesthesia of methohexital, pentobarbital, thiamylal, and thiopental in Greyhound and non-Greyhound, mixed-breed dogs were compared. In all dogs evaluated, pentobarbital induced the longest duration of anesthesia and methohexital induced the shortest duration. Pharmacokinetics of pentobarbital and methohexital were similar in both groups of dogs. Thiobarbiturates induced longer anesthetic effects in Greyhound dogs than in mixed-breed dogs. Plasma thiobarbiturate concentrations remained above normal longer in Greyhound dogs than in mixed-breed dogs. Disposition of thiobarbiturates in Greyhound dogs was characterized by nonlinearity from 45 minutes to 8 hours after dosing.