Severe propofol-associated dystonia in a dog.

A 2-year-old castrated dog was presented for chronic coughing that was evaluated with bronchoscopy following intravenous boluses of propofol. During recovery the dog developed severe rigidity of muscles of the neck and thoracic limbs, which was unresponsive to treatment but subsided over 25 minutes. A presumptive diagnosis of propofol-associated dystonia was made. The clinical characteristics and theorized pathophysiology of propofol-associated dystonia are discussed.