Short-term effects of sodium pentobarbital on blood gases and chemistry in young chickens.

Sodium pentobarbital, in its commercially prepared propylene glycol-ethanol-saline vehicle, was given intravenously to 8-week-old male and female Athens Randombred chickens, and either the vehicle alone or 0.8% saline was given to similar groups. One minute after injection, blood samples were taken for blood pH, pCO2, HCO3 minus, corticosterone, total protein, or cholesterol levels. The pO2 was significantly lower in the pentobarbital-anaesthetized birds than in those given saline or the vehicle only. Plasma glucose of birds given the vehicle was elevated over that of those given pentobarbital or saline. Triglycerides were significantly higher in plasma of birds given pentobarbital or the vehicle. This increase appeared related to the presence of the glycol moiety in the vehicle.