Abstract:
Synthetic colloids are commonly administered to dogs to treat absolute or relative
hypovolaemia. Voluven® (tetrastarch 130/0.4) and Gelofusine® (succinylated gelatin) are
available to veterinarians in South Africa. In humans, use of these products has caused acid–
base derangements, changes in haematology and impaired haemostasis. We aimed to
investigate these effects in healthy normovolaemic dogs. Eight healthy adult beagle dogs
underwent a cross-over study, receiving Voluven® or Gelofusine® (10 mL/kg/h for 120 min)
once each with a 14-day washout between treatments. Dogs were premedicated with
dexmedetomidine (10 μg/kg intramuscularly). Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and
the dogs were maintained with isoflurane-in-oxygen. The anaesthetised dogs were connected
to a multi-parameter monitor to monitor physiological parameters throughout. Catheters
placed in a jugular vein and dorsal metatarsal artery allowed sampling of venous and arterial
blood. Blood was collected immediately prior to commencement of colloid infusion, after 60
min infusion and at the end of infusion (120 min) to allow for arterial blood gas analysis,
haematology and coagulation testing (activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT],
prothrombin time [PT] and thromboelastography [TEG]). There was no effect, between
treatments or over time, on blood pH. The haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte count and
haematocrit decreased significantly over time (all p < 0.01), with no differences between
treatments, and remained within normal clinical ranges. There were no differences between
treatments or over time for the TEG, aPTT and PT tests of haemostasis. At the dose studied,
Voluven® and Gelofusine® had comparably negligible effects on blood acid–base balance and
coagulation in normovolaemic dogs.
