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2025 Canadian Guide to TIVA Agents for Dogs — Top 5 Evidence-Based IV Anesthetics (Propofol, Ketamine, Alfaxan, Dexmedetomidine, Butorphanol) — Veterinary-Reviewed Protocols to Help You Choose

Published on Thursday, August 21, 2025

Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) for dogs refers to anesthetic strategies that use continuous intravenous infusion of medications to produce and maintain anesthesia without inhalant gases. In Canada in 2025, veterinarians and specialty practices increasingly favor TIVA for its precise titratability, often quicker and smoother recoveries, reduced operating-room pollution, and the ability to tailor multimodal regimens to individual patients. Consumer and clinician preferences have trended toward propofol-based infusions for induction and maintenance, combined with adjuncts such as ketamine for NMDA-mediated analgesia, opioids for pain control, and alpha-2 agonists for sedation and MAC-sparing effects. Market factors that make these agents appealing include broad clinical experience, availability of multidose formulations (for example Alfaxan Multidose Injectable), clear dosing protocols, and growing evidence supporting balanced TIVA approaches to reduce inhalant concentrations and improve perioperative comfort.

Quick Menu

1. Best Induction Agent for TIVA

2. Best Dissociative Analgesic Adjunct

3. Best GABAergic TIVA Option

4. Best Alpha‑2 Sedative for TIVA

5. Best Opioid Adjunct for TIVA

1
BEST INDUCTION AGENT FOR TIVA

Propofol Injection 10mg/mL

Propofol Injection 10mg/mL

Propofol Injection 10mg/mL is presented as the primary TIVA induction and maintenance agent for dogs because of its rapid onset, short duration and reliably smooth recoveries compared with dissociatives; it is favored over ketamine for cleaner recoveries and over alfaxalone in many practices for its long track record. Technically it allows precise titration for TIVA and—because multiple generic manufacturers supply 10mg/mL propofol—it often delivers the best cost-per-procedure among single-agent intravenous anesthetics.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Rapid smooth induction

  • Short dreamy recovery

  • Rapid smooth induction

  • Short dreamy recovery

Review Summary

88%

"Most users report fast, smooth inductions and recoveries with excellent controllability for TIVA; clinicians caution about dose-related respiratory depression and hypotension in compromised dogs."

  • Milky vein hug

  • Rapid onset and short duration suitable for TIVA induction and controlled infusion.

  • Milky vein hug

  • Rapid onset and short duration suitable for TIVA induction and controlled infusion.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Skill Development & Mastery

Propofol Injection 10mg/mL is presented as the primary TIVA induction and maintenance agent for dogs because of its rapid onset, short duration and reliably smooth recoveries compared with dissociatives; it is favored over ketamine for cleaner recoveries and over alfaxalone in many practices for its long track record. Technically it allows precise titration for TIVA and—because multiple generic manufacturers supply 10mg/mL propofol—it often delivers the best cost-per-procedure among single-agent intravenous anesthetics.

  • Rapid smooth induction

  • Short dreamy recovery

  • Milky vein hug

  • Rapid onset and short duration suitable for TIVA induction and controlled infusion.

  • Smooth induction and recovery with predictable dosing.

  • Rapid smooth induction

  • Short dreamy recovery

  • Milky vein hug

  • Rapid onset and short duration suitable for TIVA induction and controlled infusion.

  • Smooth induction and recovery with predictable dosing.

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$20-60 CAD

2
BEST DISSOCIATIVE ANALGESIC ADJUNCT

Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection 100mg/mL

Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection 100mg/mL

Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection 100mg/mL is positioned as the cost-effective dissociative adjunct for canine TIVA protocols, offering strong analgesia and a sympathetic cardiovascular profile that can supplement or reduce the doses of propofol or alfaxalone. While it is less ideal as a sole maintenance agent due to potential for rough or prolonged recoveries relative to propofol and alfaxalone, its low unit price and stability make it an attractive choice for multimodal TIVA and analgesic-sparing strategies.

4
★★★★☆

  • Dissociative analgesia

  • Maintains airway reflexes

  • Dissociative analgesia

  • Maintains airway reflexes

Review Summary

77%

"Praised for reliable dissociative anesthesia and cardiovascular support when combined with sedatives, but many reviewers note rougher recoveries and emergence dysphoria if used alone."

  • Doggo space float

  • Dissociative anesthetic providing strong analgesia and somatic stability.

  • Doggo space float

  • Dissociative anesthetic providing strong analgesia and somatic stability.

Increased Safety & Security

Skill Development & Mastery

Time-Saving Convenience

Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection 100mg/mL is positioned as the cost-effective dissociative adjunct for canine TIVA protocols, offering strong analgesia and a sympathetic cardiovascular profile that can supplement or reduce the doses of propofol or alfaxalone. While it is less ideal as a sole maintenance agent due to potential for rough or prolonged recoveries relative to propofol and alfaxalone, its low unit price and stability make it an attractive choice for multimodal TIVA and analgesic-sparing strategies.

  • Dissociative analgesia

  • Maintains airway reflexes

  • Doggo space float

  • Dissociative anesthetic providing strong analgesia and somatic stability.

  • Supports cardiovascular function via sympathetic stimulation in healthy animals.

  • Dissociative analgesia

  • Maintains airway reflexes

  • Doggo space float

  • Dissociative anesthetic providing strong analgesia and somatic stability.

  • Supports cardiovascular function via sympathetic stimulation in healthy animals.

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$10-40 CAD

3
BEST GABAERGIC TIVA OPTION

Alfaxan Multidose Injectable

Alfaxan Multidose Injectable

Alfaxan Multidose Injectable is a veterinary-licensed alfaxalone formulation designed for dogs and stands out for producing smooth inductions and recoveries with better cardiovascular stability than propofol in some patients. As a multidose, preservative-containing product it offers workflow and per-case cost advantages in busy clinics compared with single-use alternatives, and it competes technically with propofol by providing a licensed, veterinary-specific TIVA option.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Neurosteroid calm

  • Cardio-friendly recovery

  • Neurosteroid calm

  • Cardio-friendly recovery

Review Summary

90%

"Users consistently report smooth inductions and calm recoveries with good cardiovascular stability, making it a preferred TIVA agent for many patients despite higher cost and occasional variability in sensitivity."

  • Ballerina wake-up

  • GABA-A receptor agonist producing smooth induction and recovery similar to propofol.

  • Ballerina wake-up

  • GABA-A receptor agonist producing smooth induction and recovery similar to propofol.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Alfaxan Multidose Injectable is a veterinary-licensed alfaxalone formulation designed for dogs and stands out for producing smooth inductions and recoveries with better cardiovascular stability than propofol in some patients. As a multidose, preservative-containing product it offers workflow and per-case cost advantages in busy clinics compared with single-use alternatives, and it competes technically with propofol by providing a licensed, veterinary-specific TIVA option.

  • Neurosteroid calm

  • Cardio-friendly recovery

  • Ballerina wake-up

  • GABA-A receptor agonist producing smooth induction and recovery similar to propofol.

  • Licensed for canine use with multidose formulations for clinical flexibility.

  • Neurosteroid calm

  • Cardio-friendly recovery

  • Ballerina wake-up

  • GABA-A receptor agonist producing smooth induction and recovery similar to propofol.

  • Licensed for canine use with multidose formulations for clinical flexibility.

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$120-220 CAD

4
BEST ALPHA‑2 SEDATIVE FOR TIVA

Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection

Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection

Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection is included as a potent sedative-analgesic adjuvant that markedly reduces the required infusion rates of primary TIVA agents (propofol or alfaxalone), improving overall cost-efficiency of anesthesia plans. Although it requires monitoring for bradycardia and blood pressure effects compared with the primarily hypnotic agents on this list, its technical advantage is anesthetic-sparing efficacy that can lower total drug expenditure and smooth recoveries when used judiciously.

4.2
★★★★☆

  • Potent sedation

  • Reversible control

  • Potent sedation

  • Reversible control

Review Summary

82%

"Highly effective, predictable and reversible sedative/analgesic for premedication with strong praise for its potency, tempered by frequent reports of marked bradycardia and other cardiovascular effects that require monitoring."

  • Press the nap button

  • Potent alpha-2 agonist providing profound sedation, analgesia and MAC-sparing effects.

  • Press the nap button

  • Potent alpha-2 agonist providing profound sedation, analgesia and MAC-sparing effects.

Increased Safety & Security

Skill Development & Mastery

Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection is included as a potent sedative-analgesic adjuvant that markedly reduces the required infusion rates of primary TIVA agents (propofol or alfaxalone), improving overall cost-efficiency of anesthesia plans. Although it requires monitoring for bradycardia and blood pressure effects compared with the primarily hypnotic agents on this list, its technical advantage is anesthetic-sparing efficacy that can lower total drug expenditure and smooth recoveries when used judiciously.

  • Potent sedation

  • Reversible control

  • Press the nap button

  • Potent alpha-2 agonist providing profound sedation, analgesia and MAC-sparing effects.

  • Enables reduction of other anesthetic doses during TIVA protocols.

  • Potent sedation

  • Reversible control

  • Press the nap button

  • Potent alpha-2 agonist providing profound sedation, analgesia and MAC-sparing effects.

  • Enables reduction of other anesthetic doses during TIVA protocols.

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$50-120 CAD

5
BEST OPIOID ADJUNCT FOR TIVA

Butorphanol Tartrate Injection 10mg/mL

Butorphanol Tartrate Injection 10mg/mL

Butorphanol Tartrate Injection 10mg/mL serves as an economical opioid adjunct for canine TIVA regimens, providing sedation and supplemental analgesia that help reduce doses of primary IV hypnotics and improve recovery quality. While its analgesic potency is less than full mu-agonists, its favorable price, stability and predictable sedative profile make it a practical compromise for multimodal TIVA protocols focused on cost control and smoother recoveries.

4.3
★★★★☆

  • Moderate analgesia

  • Short-lived relief

  • Moderate analgesia

  • Short-lived relief

Review Summary

84%

"Seen as a useful mild opioid analgesic and sedative adjunct in balanced anesthesia with a good safety profile; reviewers commonly note its limited efficacy for severe pain compared with full mu agonists."

  • Grumpy cuddle fix

  • Kappa agonist/mu antagonist opioid offering short-acting sedation and analgesia.

  • Grumpy cuddle fix

  • Kappa agonist/mu antagonist opioid offering short-acting sedation and analgesia.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Butorphanol Tartrate Injection 10mg/mL serves as an economical opioid adjunct for canine TIVA regimens, providing sedation and supplemental analgesia that help reduce doses of primary IV hypnotics and improve recovery quality. While its analgesic potency is less than full mu-agonists, its favorable price, stability and predictable sedative profile make it a practical compromise for multimodal TIVA protocols focused on cost control and smoother recoveries.

  • Moderate analgesia

  • Short-lived relief

  • Grumpy cuddle fix

  • Kappa agonist/mu antagonist opioid offering short-acting sedation and analgesia.

  • Useful as an adjunct to reduce induction/infusion requirements of TIVA agents.

  • Moderate analgesia

  • Short-lived relief

  • Grumpy cuddle fix

  • Kappa agonist/mu antagonist opioid offering short-acting sedation and analgesia.

  • Useful as an adjunct to reduce induction/infusion requirements of TIVA agents.

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$15-50 CAD

What the Research Says — Beginner-Friendly Evidence for TIVA in Dogs

Clinical studies and veterinary practice reviews over the last two decades have examined intravenous-only anesthesia strategies in dogs and identified consistent advantages when protocols are selected and monitored appropriately. Evidence supports propofol-based infusions for predictable induction and recovery, ketamine as an effective adjunct to reduce inhalant requirements and improve analgesia, and opioids such as butorphanol to provide perioperative pain control. Alpha-2 agonists like dexmedetomidine contribute strong sedation and MAC-sparing effects but require attentive cardiovascular monitoring. Importantly, much of the literature emphasizes that outcomes depend on correct dosing, multimodal planning, and monitoring equipment rather than on any single agent.

Propofol-based TIVA: multiple clinical series and comparative studies show rapid induction, smooth maintenance, and faster recovery profiles versus some inhalant-based protocols when dosed and infused correctly.

Ketamine adjuncts: research demonstrates NMDA receptor antagonism reduces tolerance and provides analgesic benefit, allowing lower doses of primary hypnotics and inhalants.

Alfaxalone (Alfaxan): pharmacokinetic and clinical studies report reliable induction and recovery with appropriate protocols; multidose formulations offer convenience in clinic settings.

Dexmedetomidine: trials confirm strong sedation and MAC-sparing effects, but studies also document dose-dependent bradycardia and blood pressure changes requiring monitoring and preparedness to intervene.

Opioids like butorphanol: evidence supports their role in multimodal analgesia and sedation; however, potency and duration differ from full mu agonists and should be matched to procedural pain expectations.

In the Canadian context, veterinarians commonly choose from Propofol Injection 10mg/mL, Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection 100mg/mL, Alfaxan Multidose Injectable, Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection, and Butorphanol Tartrate Injection 10mg/mL when designing TIVA protocols. For many general and specialty practices the most versatile single choice for a propofol-based TIVA workflow remains Propofol Injection 10mg/mL because of its titratability and predictable recovery profile, while combinations with Ketamine Hydrochloride and Butorphanol Tartrate or adjuncts such as Alfaxan and Dexmedetomidine are selected to match analgesia and sedation needs. We hope you found the information you were looking for; if you want to refine or expand your search, use the search box to filter by agent, formulation, dosing guidance, or provincial availability.

Discover More
  • Inhalant Anesthetics for Dogs
  • Injectable Induction Anesthetics for Dogs
  • Sedatives and Tranquilizers for Dogs
  • Local and Regional Anesthetics for Dogs
  • Anesthetic Reversal Agents for Dogs
  • Neuromuscular Blocking Agents for Dogs

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