Side effects of etomidate in dogs.

Intravenous administration of etomidate, a nonbarbiturate sedative hypnotic, induced excitement, myoclonus, pain on injection, vomiting, and apnea during induction of anesthesia in 20 experimental dogs and 70 hospitalized dogs. The dogs had excitement and purposeless muscle movements during recovery from anesthesia. The frequency and severity of the side effects were markedly attenuated or eliminated by the administration of diazepam, acepromazine, or morphine prior to etomidate administration.