Evaluation of haloperidol--ketamine mixture (1:1) anaesthesia in dogs

Four clinically healthy dogs of either sex, aged 3-5 years, weighing between 9 and 18 kg and maintained under uniform management conditions, were administered haloperidol (5 mg/ml) and ketamine (50 mg/ml) intravenously in 1:1 ratio until the pedal reflex was lost. The calculated doses of haloperidol and ketamine were 1.71 and 17.05 mg/kg body weight intravenously, respectively. Corneal and palpebral reflexes were maintained although pain reflexes were absent up to 20 min of the cocktail administration. The induction of anaesthesia was quick and smooth. There was moderate to good muscle relaxation and analgesia. Mean arterial and central venous pressures and tidal volume decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from baseline values. Significant tachycardia and hyperglycemia were observed.