Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anesthesia techniques used for field castration of 10 intractable horses.
- Journal:
- The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Stover, Bruce C & Caulkett, Nigel A
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences · Canada
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how to safely sedate difficult horses before performing castration in a field setting. The researchers worked with 10 captive horses that had previously been wild and found a method to give them sedation through an injection into the muscle. This approach is important because it helps veterinarians manage these challenging animals without needing to find a vein, which can be very hard to do. The sedation technique described is quick and easy for most vets to use, making it a useful option for handling intractable horses. Overall, the method appears to be effective for safely sedating these horses before surgery.
Abstract
Dealing with an intractable horse is a reality for nearly every equine or mixed animal veterinarian. Establishing an adequate level of sedation prior to induction of anesthesia for various clinical procedures involves little margin for error regarding the safety of the veterinarian, handler, and patient. This is further compounded by the extreme difficulty of gaining venous access required to obtain rapid and reliable results. This case series describes a technique of intramuscular sedation used for field castration of 10 captive, formerly wild horses, which may be useful for various other types of intractable horses. Key clinical message: An alternative method to sedate intractable horses for induction of anesthesia is outlined. The techniques described are accessible for most veterinary practitioners, providing small-volume, fast, and reliable intramuscular sedation.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33967290/