I’m considering moving more geriatric cats to alfaxalone induction after a propofol case last Tuesday required dopamine when MAP dipped under 60; under sevo at about 1.5% with ETCO2 35–45 and SpO2 99%, recovery was fine but hypotension lingered. For those who’ve made this switch, what monitoring thresholds prompt your first intervention, and have you seen steadier pressures with alfaxalone in this age group?
We stuck a bright red “0–60s” bin at the top of the crash cart — grab only that first — and it holds O2 delivery, an IV start kit, a Doppler cuff, and a warmed bag so a newbie can move on autopilot. Caveat: for toy breeds or decompensated shock we mount the IO kit right beside it because it’s faster than vein hunting — curious if anyone uses a slap timer to keep the 60-second pace.
Biggest win was tying the Doppler battery swap to the narc count at shift change — never dead at 2 a.m.; @rlin57 do you also clip a spare cuff to the Doppler so no one has to hunt?