Equine Sedation and Anaesthesia Flashcards
what should be done when preparing horses for sedation?
check passport assess signalment and temperament assess cardio and respiratory systems establish duration of sedation required and anticipated pain level consider facilities and handlers
why must a horses passport be checked before sedation?
due to their food production status to ensure that there is a hold placed on them if they are given specific drugs
do horses need to have food withheld before sedation?
no
should horses have food withheld after sedation?
restriction until they are adequately recovered
why is a calm, quiet environment required when sedating horses?
to enable drugs to take effect properly and so that sedation works as expected
with what type of sedation is a quiet environment key?
alpha - 2 agonists as they compete with adrenaline at receptors
how should you approach sedation of horses?
calm, quiet environment schedule enough time be aware of safety issues prepare all equipment ensure it is a positive interaction
why is it crucial that horses interaction with veterinary personnel is positive?
can easily become needle shy which poses a problem for any further veterinary treatment
what is acepromazine a derivative of?
phenothiazine
what level of sedation is offered by acepromazine?
mild
what is acepromazine used for in horses?
only takes the edge off so used for mild procedures or premed for GA
what is the speed of onset of acepromazine?
slow onset for IM and IV - 30 mins
how long is the duration of action of acepromazine?
4-6 hours
what is the key side effect of acepromazine?
vasodilation
why is acepromazine problematic in breeding stallions?
can cause priapism
why should acepromazine be avoided in shocked or hypovolaemic patients?
cause alpha adrenergic blockade which prevents contraction of smooth muscles so leads to vasodilation
what are the main types of sedatives used in horses?
alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonists
what are the effects of alpha-2 adrenoreceptoragonists?
sedation muscle relaxation analgesia cardiovascular effects hypoinsulinaemia decreased GI motility sweating
what area of the brain is targeted by alpha2-adrenoreceptors?
pons (locus ceruleus)
where do alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists have their analgesic effect?
dorsal horn of spinal cord
what are the cardiovascular effects of alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists?
bradycardia
second degree AV block
initial hypertension then hypotension
what is the sign of adequate sedation with alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists in horses?
5 point stance
ataxia
swaying
what receptors do alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists bind to?
not totally alpha 2 specific, will also bind to alpha 1
how long do alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists take to achieve full effect?
2-5 mins
what is the most specific alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist?
romifidine
what is the least specific alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist?
Xylazine
what is the fastest acting alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist?
xylazine
what is the slowest acting alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist?
romifidine
what is the alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist that causes the most ataxia?
xylazine
what is the alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist that causes the least ataxia?
romifidine
what alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist has the shortest action?
xylazine
what alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist has the longest action?
romifidine
how are alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists administered?
IV or IM
care as absorbed across MM
what are the effects of opioids on horses when given with an alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist?
have synergistic effect on analgesia and sedation depth
increased ataxia
possibility that animals are less likely to kick?!
what is the most popular opioid used in horses?
butorphanol
does butorphanol provide good analgesia to horses?
no so other analgesic must be given alongside
what is a better opioid to use in horses for it’s analgesic effect?
ketamine
what are the issues with using buprenorphine?
controlled drug
increased volume required so administration is more difficult
what is pethidine used for in horses?
relief of spasmodic colic, given IM only
can methadone be given to horses?
yes but on cascade as only licenced in small animals
when may remote IM sedation be used in horses?
unhandled or fractious horses
what combination of drugs may be given in a remote IM injection technique?
detomidine - 20-60 micrograms/kg
butorphanol - 50 micrograms/kg
acepromazine - 50 micrograms/kg
how must oral sedatives be prescribed?
for each individual horse for each time of use following a clinical exam by VS
what should be arranged when prescribing oral sedatives?
safe disposal of any unused product
what should be done when handling oral sedatives?
wear gloves
what is involved in gaining informed owner consent for sedation for paraprofessionals?
establish proposed procedures
warn owner about risks and define limits of responsibility
advise client that it’s prefurrable for the vet to be present throughout the period of sedation
advise about legal aspects of performing invasive veterinary surgery
ensure advice is provided verbally and in writing - record this
what is the calculated total mortality from peri-operative complications in horses?
1.9% died within 7 days of surgery
what are the top 3 factors responsible for anaesthetic death in horses?
cardiac arrest 33%
fracture 23%
myopathy 7%
what type of surgery is highly risky in horses?
colic
what are the risk factors associated with equine anaesthesia?
drugs used age of animal duration of anaesthesia time of surgery operation type
what drug may have a protective effect against anaesthetic related death?
acepromazine
why is TIVA protective in equine anaesthesia?
TIVA is only safe in shorter procedures (<2 hrs)
is there a difference in risk between isoflurane and halothane when used in horses?
no difference found
what age of horse is associated with lowest risk of anaesthetic death?
2-7 years