Table 4.

Anaesthetic agents used for premedication, induction and maintenance. No significant differences between groups.

Group	Buprenorphine n=83	Butorphanol n=70
Premedication Mean dose±SD (range)	Buprenorphine 13±4 μg/kg (8–21) Acepromazine 54±20 μg/kg (26–124) Atropine 43±14 μg/kg (16–58) n=17	Butorphanol 0.4±0.03 mg/kg (0.31–0.57) Acepromazine 56±20 μg/kg (24–120) Atropine 47±16 μg/kg (16–76) n=14
Induction of anaesthesia Mean dose±SD (range)	Propofol 7.6±2.6 mg/kg (3.5–15.9) n=64 Saffan 0.56±0.15 ml/kg (0.29–0.78) n=14 Thiopentone 14.9±3.2 mg/kg (11.0–18.8) n=5	Propofol 7.5±2.2 mg/kg (3.6–12.2) n=52 Saffan 0.51±0.16 ml/kg (0.25–0.74) n=9 Thiopentone 16.5±4.3 mg/kg (11.0–25.8) n=9
Maintenance of anaesthesia %	69 isoflurane	75 isoflurane
	10 halothane	7 halothane
	20 none	17 none
	1 further IV induction agent	1 further IV induction agent