Farm Animal Anesthesia Flashcards
Why are ruminants not ideal candidates for general anesthesia?
What do we do instead usually?
Not ideal because:
- High risk of regurgitation and aspiration
- Ruminal tympany
- Salivation: ruminant cant swallow, therefore saliva can become an aspiration risk or acid-base disturbance
- Hypoventilation: large rumen/ viscera pushes on the diaphragm
- Hypotension
- neuropathy/ myopathy
- Difficult intubation especially goats and sheep
Usually do Sedation and local blocks instead
How can the risk of aspiration/ regurgitation be reduced in ruminants under general anesthesia?
- Place an endotracheal tube and inflate the cuff
- Fast the ruminant prior to anesthesia
- Place a stomach tube to redirect the rumen contents out of the ruminan
How can the risk of ruminal tympany be reduced in ruminants under general anesthesia?
- Fast the ruminant prior to anesthesia
- Place a stomach tube to redirect the rumen contents out of the cow
note: Trochar + cannula can be used to treat ruminal tympany
How can the risk of salivation be reduced in ruminants under general anesthesia?
- Place an endotracheal tube and inflate the cuff: prevent aspiration
- Administer LRS + bicarbonate, or collect the saliva and readminister via a stomach tube
How can the risk of hypoventilation be reduced in ruminants under general anesthesia?
- Positive Pressure Ventilation: manual or ventilator
- Fast the ruminant prior to anesthesia: reduce the weight of the viscera on the diaphragm
How can the risk of hypotension be reduced in ruminants under general anesthesia?
- Administer fluids
- May be due to tympany, therefore prevent or treat ruminal tympany
How can the risk of neuropathy/ myopathy be reduced in ruminants under general anesthesia?
- Padding and good positioning of the ruminant
How can you prevent laryngospasm in ruminants while trying to intubate them?
Spray Lidocaine (similar to cats)
What induction agents are used in ruminants?
- Ketamine (2-5 mg/kg IV)
Lower dose used if already premedicated
Higher dose used if no premed or poor sedation is used
Unlicensed to use but are options:
- Propofol
- Alfaxalone
What inhalant anesthetic is used in ruminants?
What is its withdrawal period?
Isoflurane
Withdrawal period = 28 days
What Analgesics are available to be used in ruminants?
NSAIDs:
- Carprofen
- Meloxicam
- Ketoprofen
- Flunixin
Local Anesthetics:
- Procaine + adrenaline: used for cornual nerve blocks
- Lidocaine: used for epidurals
What is the standard anesthetic protocol used in cattle?
Premed: Butorphanol + Xylazine
Induction: Ketamine
Maintenance: Isoflurane
Analgesia: Ketamine CRI, local/ regional blocks, and NSAIDs
What is the standard anesthetic protocol used in sheep/goats?
Premed: Butorphanol + Detomidine (not licensed for use in Ireland though)
Induction: Ketamine
Maintenance: Isoflurane
Analgesia: Butorphanol, local/ regional blocks, and NSAIDs
What is the standard anesthetic protocol used for llamas and alpacas?
Premed: Xylazine (0.2-0.5 mg/kg) + Butorphanol (0.05-0.5 mg/kg)
Induction: Ketamine
Maintenance: Isoflurane or Sevoflurane
Analgesia: Butorphanol, local/ regional blocks, and NSAIDs
What breeds of pigs are genetically predisposed to Malignant Hyperthermia?
- Landrace
- Duroc
- Pietrain
- Poland-China
Where can an IV catheter be placed in pigs?
- Auricular vein: preferred
- Cephalic
- Saphenous
Pigs are prone to laryngospasm, how can this be prevented?
Lidocaine spray (similar to cats)
What is Malignant Hyperthermia?
What can trigger this event in pigs?
Malignant Hyperthermia is a hereditary disorder of the Ryanodine receptor type 1
This receptor is associated with the calcium channels in the skeletal muscle, leading to excess release of Calcium, intense muscle contraction and the formation of heat
In pigs, this event can be triggered by stress, succinylcholine, volatile agents (including isoflurane) and Nitrous oxide
What are the clinical signs associated with Malignant Hyperthermia in pigs?
- Rapid and sudden Hypercarbia
- Muscle rigidity = limb extension
- Retraction of eyeballs
- Obvious 3rd eyelid protrusion
- Hot and very pink skin
- Tachycardia
- Increased temperature
What is the treatment for Malignant Hyperthermia in pigs?
1) Remove the triggering cause e.g. stop isoflurane immediately and give 100% oxygen
2) Cool the body: give cold IV fluids, gastric and bladder lavage + icepacks
3) Dantrolene: is a muscle relaxant
What is a standard anesthetic protocol used in pigs?
Premed:
- Azaperone + Ketamine + Butorphanol = Give IM and leave the animal alone for 30 mins minimum in a quiet environment. Slow recovery too
- Detomidine + Ketamine + Butorphanol = Give IM
0. 1 mg/kg, 5mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg
Induction:
- Ketamine
- Thiopentaone
Maintenance: Isoflurane is the drug of choice, but can cause malignant hyperthermia
Analgesia:
- NSAIDs: Meloxicam or Flunixin
- Opioid: Butorphanol
- Local anesthetics
What nerve blocks are indicated in a horn block in cattle?
2 or 3 blocks
1) Cornual nerve block: midway b/w lateral canthus and base of horn
2) Cornual branch of the Infratrochlear nerve: b/w medial canthus of eye and base of horn, inject at same level as cornual nerve
+/-
3) Supraorbital branch of Frontal nerve: midway from medial side of horn along the supraorbital process
- note: if you block infratrochlear you are likely to block this one anyway as they are anatomically close together
When are horn blocks indicated for cattle?
- Dehorning/ Disbudding
- Horn injury
- Inappropriate horn growth
What local anesthetic cocktail is used for a horn block in cattle?
- 2% lidocaine neat (5-10 mls)
- Adrenocaine
+ NSAID
What are the complications associated with a horn block in cattle?
Block not 100% effective due to:
- Variations in the nerve path
- Inaccurate assessment of depth
- Misplacement of needle
- Pain on injection might cause the animal to move and misplace the block
When is disbudding/ dehorning usually done in cattle?
2 weeks old
When is disbudding/ dehorning of goats usually done?
3-5 days old