Intraocular and Cardiopulmonary Effects of Low-dose Mannitol in the Dog

Fatal complications have been reported during anesthesia in dogs that received a standard (1–2 g/kg IV) dose of mannitol during intraocular surgery. A lower dose (0.25 g/kg IV), which had been shown to reduce intracranial pressure in humans, was evaluated during halothane anesthesia in dogs. There were no significant changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) or cardiovascular variables. This lower dose (0.25 g/kg IV) did not reduce IOP and would not be of benefit in dogs undergoing intraocular surgery.