Propofol for treatment of refractory seizures in dogs and a cat with intracranial disorders

Twelve dogs and one cat that were presented with seizures due to various disorders of intracranial origin were treated with one or several boluses of propofol (2 to 8 mg/kg). All the animals had received previous medication, including diazepam alone or in combination with phenobarbital and/or pentobarbital. Seizure control with prevention of further convulsions was achieved in 11 patients. In one dog, seizures kept recurring after periods of successful control following administration of propofol. Another dog with continuing seizures resistant to barbiturate therapy died following administration of propofol. This retrospective study suggests that propofol may be an effective drug in controlling status epilepticus resistant to conventional medication and may be used as an alternative to pentobarbital administration.