Greyhounds have special anesthesia needs when undergoing surgery. Anesthesia that is safe for other dogs can kill a greyhound.

This is the anesthesia protocol for greyhounds. We recommend taking a copy to your veterinarian and keeping a copy in the glove compartment of your car in case of emergency.

Principals for Administering Anesthesia to Greyhounds

•   Never use thiobarbituates including Biotal, Surital, or Pentothal.

•   Acepromazine is a safe and reliable preanesthetic tranquilizer in the greyhound.

•   Diazepam and Ketamine combination or Telazole are safe IV anesthetic drugs to use for intubation.

•   Isoflurane is the gas anesthetic of choice. It is exceptionally safe and recovery is rapid.

•   Greyhounds should have IV fluids administered during all major procedures lasting longer than 45 minutes. 
    The rate of infusion is 10 ml/kg/hour.

•   Greyhounds are prone to hypothermia while under anesthesia and should be kept on a heated water pad or another source of safe 
    heat during surgery.

•   There is no age limit for surgically spaying or neutering greyhounds, but proper pre-surgical workups should be done and all workups 
    should include platelet evaluation. This will further insure the safety of an anesthetic procedure.

Procedure

•  Give a dose of 0.1cc of Acepromazine subcutaneously 30 minutes before administering anesthesia. This will result in a smoother recovery.

•   Give atropine sulfate or preferably glycopyrrolate at the time of surgical induction with the intravenous anesthetic.

•   A reliable IV induction anesthetic combination consists of equal amounts of diazepam and ketamine drawn up in the same syringe. 
    The calculated dose of this combination is approximately 1cc of the mixture per 10 pounds of body weight. Half of the calculated dose can 
    be given a bolus, then administer just enough as needed to intubate. Telazole is a safe drug to use in place of diazepam and ketamine. 
    It is does at 1cc per 100 pounds of body weight. Propofol is another safe alternative.

•   Isoflurane is then used at about 1.5 to 2 percent to maintain anesthesia. Sevoflurane can also be used.