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Applied Anesthesia for different animals

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"last update: 27 January 2025"                                                                                                    Download Guideline

- Equine anesthesia guideline

Anaesthetics used in Equine for Standing Procedures
Drug (Group Name)
Activity
Induction (min)
Duration (min)
Dose / Kg
Side Effects

Acepromazine

(Phenothiazine Derivative)

Tranquilizer

2-5 I.V

Maximum effect 45min

240-300

0.02 mg IV

0.05 mg IM

Vasodilation ® ¯ BP. ­HR.  1° AV Block

Flaccid Penis Protrusion

Diazepam (Benzodiazepine)

Ataxia

2-5 i.v

120

 

Ataxia ® Panic

Xylazine

(a2 Adrenoreceptor Agonists)

Sedative

5

30 – 60

0.5 – 1 mg IV

Transient ¯ HR in 2 min. ¯ ABP for 1 hr

SA & AV Heart Block. Sweating. Hyperglycemia. Diuresis. ¯ Git Motility. 10-15 min ­ BR.

 10% Sol = Mild Tissue Rn.

20

30 – 60

2 - 3 mg IM

Detomidine (a2 AA)

Sedative + Analgesic

10-15

60

10 - 20 mg IV or > 20 mg IM

As in Xylazine. No Tissue Rn..

Morphine (Opioid)

Analgesic

5-10

> 120

0.05 – 0.1 mg IV or < 0.25 mg IM

¯ BR. ­HR. ­ ABP. It may cause excitement.

Methadone (Opioid)

Analgesic

5-10

> 120

0.05 – 0.1 mg IV or IM

Ataxia + Incoordination

Pethidine (Opioid)

GIT Antispasmodic

5-10

> 120

1 – 2 mg/kg IM

Excitement. Anaphylaxis

Butorphanol (Opioid)

Pre & Post Op Analgesic

5-10

120

> 0.1 mg/kg IV or IM

Ataxia + Crate-Walking

Buprenorphine (Opioid)

Analgesic

15

480

0.006 mg/kg IV or IM

-


Premedication used in Equine for General Anaesthesia

Drug

(Group Name)

Activity
Indications

Application

Time Pre Ind

Induction

 (min)

Dose / Kg
Side Effects

Atropine (Anticholinergic)

¯ Vagal Reflexes

 

Bradycardia

15-30 min

120

0.02-0.04 mg s.c

¯ Vision. Airway obstruction.

¯ Intestinal Motility

Glycopyrrolate (Anticholinergic)

 

 

0.01mg s.c im

Acepromazine

¯ Recovery Excitement

­ other drugs Duration

Use of Barbiturates

1 hr

5 – 20

0.03 – 0.05 mg IV or

0.02 – 0.04 mg IM

 

10 % Xylazine

¯ other drugs Dose

 

 

15 – 20 min

120

2 mg IM

Reluctance to walk

 

2 – 4 min

120

1 mg IV

10 % Detomidine

¯ other drugs Dose

 

15 – 20 min

120

20 – 40 mg IM

 

2 – 4 min

120

10 – 20 mg IV


Induction Agents used in Equine for General Anaesthesia
Drug
(Group Name)
Premedication
Dose / Kg
Induction (min)
Duration (min)
Side Effects

Thiopentone (Barbiturate)

Acepromazine

10 mg IV

0.5

15-20

Paddling Movements for 30 sec

Xylazine

5.5 mg IV

Thiopentone + Guaiphenesin

Acepromazine

5 mg IV

1-2

30-45

 

Methohexitone

Xylazine

2.8 mg IV

0.5

25

Transient Abnormal BR

Ketamine

Xylazine

2.2 mg IV

2

10 - 30

Very abrupt end

Etorphine in Immobilon

 

0.5 / 50 IV

0.5 / 50 IM

 

45

IM use ® Excitement. ¯ BR. ¯HR. Priapism. 7 dy meat withdrawal.

Metomidate

Detomidine

2.25 mg IV

 

 

 

Halothane (Foals)

 

 

 

 

 


Maintenance Agents used in Equine for General Anaesthesia
Drug
Indications
Induction Agent
Dose /
 Kg
Duration (min)
Side Effects

Thiopentone Sodium

(Barbiturate)

Unforeseen Halothane Maintenance

Xylazine - Ketamine

0.5 – 1.0 mg IV over 20-30 secs

10

It can’t be repeated

Methohexitone Na

Large Equine only

Xylazine - Ketamine

100 mg IV

20

¯ BR

Propofol

 

Xylazine

2 mg IV

15

 

50 mg Guaiphenesin + 1 mg Ketamine + 0.5 mg Xylazine

Amounts/ml of a 5% Dextrose Sol.  in H2O

Xylazine - Ketamine

2.75 ml/hr

90

 

Halothane

 

Xylazine - Ketamine

W/ O2: 0.7–1.1% ETV

W/ NO2: 0.9-1% ETV

30 minutes post-termination

¯ BR. ¯ APB. Acidosis. Hypoxia®Movement

Recovery®Ataxia + Shivering

Enflurane

 

Xylazine - Ketamine

2.3% ETV

 

¯ APB. ¯ BR. Resp Arrest @ 4.5% ETV

Isoflurane

With IPPV

Xylazine - Ketamine

1.5% ETV

 

¯ BR. ¯ APB. ¯ Peripheral Resistance