Anaesthesia in Different Species Flashcards
Equine Anaesthesia considerations
Horses are larger - equipment is larger
Premedicate horses to make them easier to handle
GA is common for
○ Laparotomies
○ Arthroscopies
○ Colic surgeries
Standing anaesthesia is often used (limbs)
Field anaesthesia is different to theatre anaesthesia
○ Less reliant on volatile agents to keep horse anaesthetised
○ Kept unconscious by incremental injections of ketamine
Intubated in theatre
Most problems manifest in recovery
Farm Animal Anaesthesia Considerations
Most performed standing under sedation and local blocks
Economics make GA inefficient
Intake ruminants via palpation
○ Insert are into back of throat
○ Feel laryngeal cartilages and thread tracheal tube through
ears can be used to place IV cannulas - administer sedatives or induce anaesthesia
Be careful with certain drug types in food animals (withdrawal periods)
Bird Anaesthesia Considerations
Very different anatomy
Premedical to sedate and reduce handling stress
○ Can apply to nasal cavity rather than inject flight muscles
Use analgesics and muscle relaxants so we don’t over rely on isoflurane
Often need to be ventilated - lack diaphragm
Rabbit Anaesthesia Considerations
Often present as very ill - due to prey hiding disease
premeds used to reduce handling stress
often have post-op gut problems/ileus
Induction can be subcut, IM or IV
Use NSAIDs and opioids
Higher mortality rate than cats/dogs
Exotic Animal Anaesthesia Considerations
IV access can be challenging - know anatomy
Don’t neglect analgesia
Must be aware of normals of species
Zoo Animal Anaesthesia
Unknown health status due to no recent examination
Often used darts or nets to restrain/catch
Most protocols incorporate ketamine or tiletamine as induction agent
Combine other drugs such as:
Alpha-2 agonists
Benzodiazepines
Opioids
Ensure patients are relaxed and have received analgesia
Wild animals are often darted with potent opioids - not day one competency
