Propofol: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Sedative / anaesthetic

Also known as

PropoFlo, Rapinovet, Diprivan

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Horses, Goats, Sheep, Pigs and Primates

General dose range

2–6 mg/kg IV to effect (induction) or CRI — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

IV

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• IV induction of general anaesthesia
• Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) by CRI
• Sedation for short procedures / endoscopy
• Control of refractory status epilepticus (CRI)

Propofol dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Induction (premedicated): Plumb’s p.1017: after acepromazine 3–4 mg/kg IV; after acepromazine + opioid about 2.3 mg/kg; after an alpha-2 or opioid sedative 3 mg/kg (Robinson 1993; Mathews 1999). Papich 5e: reduce the unpremedicated dose by at least 20–30% (≈3 mg/kg). Unpremedicated: about 4–6 mg/kg (label 5.5–7.6 mg/kg). Give 25% of the calculated dose every 30 s to effect; rapid injection causes apnoea.
• TIVA maintenance (CRI): Papich 5e: 5–6 mg/kg slowly IV then 100–450 µg/kg/min (up to 600 µg/kg/min unpremedicated); less with ketamine or other agents. Plumb’s p.1017: sedation 0.1 mg/kg/min; maintenance about 0.4 mg/kg/min (Ilkiw 1992); minor surgery 0.6 mg/kg/min (Robinson 1993). Provide analgesia separately.
• Refractory status epilepticus: Papich 5e: 1–6 mg/kg IV to effect followed by a CRI of 0.1–0.6 mg/kg/min. Intubate and ventilate as needed.

Cats

• Induction: Papich 5e: 4–8 mg/kg IV slowly — most cats induce with about 6 mg/kg; reduce 16–24% with premedication and up to 25% with midazolam; top-ups 1–3 mg/kg. Plumb’s p.1017 (label): 4.1–8 mg/kg unpremedicated, 2.7–8 mg/kg premedicated. Repeated daily propofol causes Heinz-body anaemia in cats.
• TIVA maintenance (CRI): Papich 5e: 6 mg/kg slowly IV then 200–300 µg/kg/min; for short procedures the total is about 15 mg/kg for 30 min. Prolonged or repeated infusions cause Heinz-body anaemia and slow recovery in cats.

Horses

• Induction (after alpha-2 sedation): Papich 5e: 2 mg/kg IV bolus. Give guaifenesin (90 mg/kg IV) or another sedative first to prevent excitement, myotonus and rough recovery. Support ventilation.

Goats

• Induction: Papich 5e: small ruminants 4 mg/kg IV, titrated to effect after premedication. Intubate (regurgitation/aspiration risk) and support ventilation.

Sheep

• Induction: Papich 5e: small ruminants 4 mg/kg IV, titrated to effect after premedication. Intubate and support ventilation.

Pigs

• Miniature/pet pig — induction: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 12-4 (p.666): miniature pigs 2–5 mg/kg IV induction, then 4–8 mg/kg/hr IV CRI for maintenance. Venous access in conscious pigs is difficult — usually follows IM sedation. Papich 5e: pigs 2–5 mg/kg IV.

Primates

• Induction (monkeys, baboons): Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 13-4 (p.698–699): monkeys/baboons/macaques 2.5–5 mg/kg IV bolus, then 0.3–0.4 mg/kg/min CRI; chimpanzees 1–2 mg/kg IV bolus then CRI. Great-ape maintenance dose is 5–10× less than the human dose. Support ventilation.

Contraindications

No IV access or inability to support ventilation. Severe cardiovascular compromise (use a reduced dose, slowly). Marked hyperlipidaemia (lipid vehicle). Egg / soy lecithin allergy.

Species-specific warnings

Cats: Repeated daily / prolonged infusions cause Heinz-body anaemia and prolonged recovery — limit consecutive-day use.

Adverse effects

• Apnoea (especially with a rapid bolus) — give over 30–60 s
• Hypotension from vasodilation
• Pain / twitching on injection; transient excitement on recovery
• Cats: oxidative (Heinz-body) injury with repeated daily / prolonged use

Drug interactions

• CNS depressants: additive sedation, anaesthesia and cardiorespiratory depression
• Inhalational anaesthetics (halothane, isoflurane): propofol serum concentrations may be increased
• Local anaesthetics: reduce the propofol dose needed for sedation or hypnosis
• Anticholinergics: propofol-induced bradycardia may be EXACERBATED, particularly when opiate premedicants are used
• Hepatic P-450 inhibitors (chloramphenicol, cimetidine, ketoconazole): may prolong recovery times — clinical significance unclear but Plumb's flags it as potentially significant IN CATS
• Chloramphenicol specifically: may decrease propofol clearance and increase recovery time
• Medetomidine: HYPOXAEMIA may occur when propofol follows medetomidine — adjust dose and monitor adequately
• Midazolam: synergistic with propofol; midazolam plasma concentrations may rise by up to 20%
• Metoclopramide: reduced the induction dose required by 20–25% in humans
• Clonidine premedication: reduces propofol dose requirement
• Opiates: may increase serum concentrations of both the opiate and propofol; fentanyl raised bradycardia risk in human paediatric patients

Pregnancy and lactation

Crosses the placenta; commonly used for caesarean induction because of its rapid clearance — minimise the dose and ventilate the dam.

Monitoring

• Apnoea / respiratory rate — preoxygenate and be ready to intubate and ventilate
• Blood pressure (vasodilatory hypotension)
• Recovery quality

Toxicity and overdose

Plumb's p.1018: overdose is likely to cause significant RESPIRATORY depression and potentially cardiovascular depression. Management is discontinuation, artificial ventilation with oxygen, and symptomatic and supportive treatment of the cardiovascular depression — IV fluids, pressors and anticholinergics as needed. There is no antagonist, so airway control is the treatment. The practical risk is giving it too fast: apnoea is dose-rate dependent, so titrate slowly to effect rather than delivering a calculated bolus.

Clinical pearls

• Inject the first third then titrate to effect over 30–60 s — bolus speed, not just dose, drives apnoea
• Discard opened vials within 6–12 h (or per label) — the lipid emulsion supports bacterial growth; use strict asepsis
• Avoid repeated daily propofol anaesthesia in cats — cumulative oxidative red-cell injury and slow recovery

Mechanism of action

Plumb's p.1016: propofol is a short-acting hypnotic unrelated to the other general anaesthetics; its mechanism is not well understood (GABA-A potentiation is the accepted explanation, but Plumb's does not commit to it). Given slowly IV in dogs it produces rapid, smooth, excitement-free induction in 30–60 seconds. Sub-anaesthetic doses give sedation, restraint and unawareness of surroundings; anaesthetic doses give unconsciousness with good muscle relaxation. Cardiovascular effects are arterial HYPOTENSION, bradycardia (especially alongside opiate premedicants) and negative inotropism, with significant respiratory depression that is worst on rapid administration or at high dose. It also lowers intraocular pressure, increases appetite and is antiemetic. Two things it is NOT: it does not appear to trigger malignant hyperthermia, and it has little or no analgesic property — so it must be paired with a genuine analgesic for anything painful.

Formulations and products

• Propofol 10 mg/mL emulsion

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other sedatives and anaesthetics

• Medetomidine
• Midazolam
• Pentobarbital (Pentobarbitone)
• Phenobarbital
• Romifidine
• Sevoflurane
• Thiopental Sodium
• Tiletamine–Zolazepam

Frequently asked questions