Anesthesia in Ruminants

Question 1

how do you prepare calves for anesthesia

Answer 1

food for 8-12 hours (water 8h)

Question 2

how do you prepare adult cattle for anesthesia

Answer 2

food for 12 h (-24) water for 12h

Question 3

how do you prepare bulls for anesthesia

Answer 3

24-36h food

water 24h

Question 4

what are the premedications used in cattle

Answer 4

1. xylazine: not in last trimester
2. 02-0.1 mg/kg IV (off license)
3. 1-0.2 mg/kg IM
4. detomidine:

10-40 micrograms/kg IM or IV (higher dose IM)

Question 5

can alpha 2 agonists be used in small ruminants

Answer 5

hypoxemia and pulmonary edema

worse when IV and during anesthesia

supplement with O2

Question 6

what would a premed protocol be in adult cattle

Answer 6

xylazine 0.2 mg/kg IM or 0.2 mg/kg IV

butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg (IM or IV)

Question 7

what would a induction protocol be in adult cattle

Answer 7

ketamine 3 mg/kg IV +/- thiopentone 1-2 mg/kg

thiopentone associated with increased risk of regurgitation

Question 8

what are premedication options for calves

Answer 8

1. xylazine 0.2 mg/kg + ketamine 10 mg/kg mixed in syringe IM
2. xylazine 0.2 mg/kg IM

ketamine 5 mg/kg IV

Question 9

what are small ruminant induction protocols

Answer 9

1. detomidine 0.02 mg/kg + ketamine 15 mg/kg IM mixed in same syringe
2. detomidine 0.01-0.02 mg/kg + butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg IM/IV

ketamine 2-5 mg/kg IV

Question 10

how are small ruminant research animals premedicated and induced

Answer 10

1. premed: diazepam 0.2 - 0.5 mg/lkg IV + butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg IV
2. induction: propofol 4-6 mg/kg IV to effect

Question 11

how is anesthesia maintained (3)

Answer 11

1. isoflurane under cascade
2. no nitrous oxide
3. bovine tripe drip: guaifenesin 5% + ketamine 1-2 mg/ml + xylazine 0.1 mg/ml

Question 12

what analgesics are used in ruminants (5)

Answer 12

1. NSAIDs
2. opioids
3. locoregional anesthesia
4. ketamine CRI intra-op
5. lidocaine CRI

Question 13

what are regional analgesic techniques

Answer 13

1. epidural analgesia + anesthesia
2. IVRA
3. head blocks: cornual, opthalmic, dental
4. flank

others

Question 14

what are commonly encountered problems (5)

Answer 14

1. regurgitation and subsequent aspiration of ruminal content
2. ruminal tympany
3. cardiovascular depression
4. respiratory compromise
5. salivation

Question 15

how is anesthetic recovery

Answer 15

1. sternal recumbency
2. cuffed ETT
3. high volume epidural/intrathecal anesthesia
4. usually calm and quite