Seizure activity occurring in two dogs after S-ketamine-induction

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Anesthesiology
• Canine Neurology

Background:

• Premedication with methadone and acepromazine followed by general anesthesia induction using midazolam and S-ketamine was administered to two healthy dogs for elective orthopedic procedures.
• The study aimed to assess anesthetic protocols in veterinary practice.

Observation:

• Immediately after anesthetic induction with S-ketamine, both dogs experienced seizure activity.
• Clinical signs included tonic-clonic motor activity, muscular hypertonia, hypersalivation, autonomic dysfunction (urination, defecation), and hyperthermia in the first dog.
• The second dog presented with focal muscle twitches, increased muscle tone, hypersalivation, spontaneous urination, and elevated body temperature.

Findings:

• The occurrence of seizures was temporally associated with the induction of anesthesia using S-ketamine.
• No other causative factors for the seizures were identified.
• It is hypothesized that S-ketamine played a role in the observed convulsive phenomena.

Implications:

• S-ketamine may possess a potential to induce seizures in healthy dogs, even when administered with GABA-ergic drugs like midazolam.
• This finding warrants consideration for anesthetic protocols involving S-ketamine in canine patients.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanism and risk factors associated with S-ketamine-induced seizures in dogs.