Anaesthetic & analgesic regime for tail amputation

Question 1

Anaesthetic regime

Answer 1

Epidural:
– 5-6ml of lidocaine, or xylazine 0.03mg/kg + 5ml of lidocaine – American study
– So UK would use procaine instead – 10ml for average dairy cow for gyney stuff (e.g. prolapse) but will start to get anaesthesia of the back legs.
– So for this use 5ml as def get anaesthesia of the tail but less risk of them falling over/ going dow.

Could do a ring block but wouldn’t block periosteum.

Local - lidocaine into inter-coccygeal joint

Question 2

Analgesic regime

Answer 2

• Flunixin 2.2mg/kg IV
• Ketoprofen 3mg/kg IM

Question 3

Antibiotic use

Answer 3

• depends on the case
• if dirty environment
  – Distal – animal will be able to hold the tail away from the body when defaecating so unlikely to get contaminated
  – But if further distal then may need it if unlikely to be able to get it away from the body
• Bandages – can be difficult to keep on so often don’t bother.

Question 4

Other points

Answer 4

• Put feed back and then drape over tail so if she shits it doesn’t go onto the surgical site.