Dead space volumes in cats and dogs with small body mass ventilated with a fixed tidal volume.

Objective: To compare the portion of tidal volume (V) ventilating dead space volumes in nonbrachycephalic cats and dogs with small body mass receiving volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) with a fixed V.

Study Design: Prospective, experimental study.

Animals: A group of eight healthy adult cats and dogs [ideal body weight (IBW): 3.