Thiobarb

Administer the reconstituted solution by intravenous injection.

Reconstitute the 5 g Thiopentone Sodium in the bottle by adding 100 mL Sterile Water for Injection to produce a 5% solution, or by adding 50 mL Sterile Water for Injection to produce a 10% solution.

Do not use if the solution is not clear.

Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, swine

Use 1 g/100 kg bodyweight. This may be increased in small ponies to 1.25 g/100 kg bodyweight and should be decreased to about 0.9 g/100 kg bodyweight in horses over 500 kg bodyweight.

Cats, dogs

Use 250 mg/10 kg bodyweight (25 – 30 mg/kg). The choice of solution strength is determined by the type and condition of the animal to be anaesthetised. The use of a 1.25% solution allows precise control over dosage for cats and very small dogs. In larger animals,
a 2.5% or 5% solution can be used, the lower concentration providing greater general safety. The largest quantity which should be administered to even a very large dog on any one occasion is 1.25 g.

NOTE: Above are approximate doses only, as the amount of reconstituted Thiobarb used, and the effect produced, varies with every animal. Very young and old animals require significantly reduced amounts.

Appropriate use of tranquillisers and analgesics as premedicants, prior to the use of Thiobarb, will reduce the total amount of thiopentone sodium required. Anaesthesia can be extended by the use of additional doses of Thiobarb to effect. However, this will cause a significant increase in recovery time. If perivascular leakage should occur during induction of anaesthesia, the injection site should be infiltrated with saline solution, preferably with hyaluronidase added.