Anesthesia Under Field

Conditions
General Comments
Injectable Anesthesia
GENERAL COMMENTS

For major surgical manipulations in both the

small and large animals, one should resort to
injectable or gas inhalation general
anesthesia; the later being the safest
The following guidelines; however, are given
for general information and one can decide
according to the situation.
SMALL ANIMALS-1

1. Dogs:
Barbiturates (eg. Pentothal Sodium (0.5 gm or 50mg vial)

Dissolve it in 10ml of distilled water to get 5%

solution

Hence, 1ml will contain 50 mg. of the drug.

SMALL ANIMALS-2
DOSE: 15mg/Kg (I/V only)
So, for a 20Kg. dog—
15x20=300 mg.ie 6ml
Give half of the calculated dose as a bolus
and administer the rest slowly to effect.
(used as pre as well as anesthetic drug).
SMALL ANIMALS-3
2. Cats: (KAR)
• Ketamine Hcl---100mg / ml----------10ml
50mg/ml………….20ml
• Atropine Sulphate--1mg / ml ------ 2ml
• Rompun/ xylazine-------------- 20mg / ml-------1ml
•Mix these drugs in one bottle. (The shelf life
of the mixture is two weeks at room
temperature)
SMALL ANIMALS-4

DOSE-------- 0.25ml / Kg. B.W. (I/M or I/V)

• Actually this dose is preanesthetic medication
for endotracheal intubation
• If gas inhalation anesthesia is not available, then
the dose may be increased to
• 0.5ml / Kg.B.W. It will work as a general
anesthetic for about 30-40 minutes.
SMALL ANIMALS-5

3. Sheep and Goats:

Rompun---- 0.1mg / Kg.B.W.- (I/M)
So, for a 50 Kg. animal
0.1x50= 5mg. ie 0.25ml
LARGE ANIMALS-1

1. Camels:
Rompun-------------- 0.2 mg / Kg. B.W. (I/V)
Ketamine Hcl 0.2 mg / Kg. B.W. (I/V)
Hence, for a 500 Kg. animal
Rompun— 0.2 x 500= 100 mg. ie 5ml
Ketamine— 0.2 x 500= 100 mg. ie 1ml
Both drugs may be given mixed in the same syringe.
LARGE ANIMALS-2

2. Cattle:
Rompun------------ 0.12 – 0.15 mg / Kg. B.W.
(I/M. or I/V)
So, for a 500 Kg. animal
• 0.12 x 500 = 60mg ie 3ml or
• 0.15 x 500 = 75mg.ie 3.75ml
LARGE ANIMALS-3
The following combination may also be used as
Intramuscular injection.
• Rompun------ ---0.1mg / Kg.B.W.
• Ketamine Hcl---0.5 mg / Kg.B.W.
So, for a 500 Kg. animal
• Rompun--------- 0.1x500= 50mg.ie 2.5ml
• Ketamine Hcl--- 0.5x500= 250mg.ie 2.5 ml.
(May be mixed in the same syringe)
LARGE ANIMALS-4

3. Horses:
• Rompun----------0.6 mg / Kg.B.W.--------I/V
• Ketamine Hcl---1.0mg / Kg.B.W.---------I/V
So, for a 500 Kg.horse
• Rompun---------- 0.6x500= 300mg. ie 15ml.
• Ketamine Hcl------ 1x500= 500mg. ie 5ml.
• Both drugs may be given mixed in the same syringe.
EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA-1

Definition: Injection of local anesthetic drug in the

epidural space
Drug concentration: 2 % aquous solution of Lignocaine
or Procaine hydrochloride or any other local anesthetic
drug available in the market.
Site of injection: Sacrococcygeus space or occasionally
first intercoccygeus space in the cattle and buffaloes.
Dose: 10 to 50 ml depending upon the procedure to be
performed.
EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA-2
Indications: Surgical manipulations on----------------
Tail Amputation
Anal sphincter (prolapse of rectum), perineal region
(perineal lacerations, perineal abscesses and
urethrostomy), vulval lips and posterior portion of vaginal
cavity (persistent hymen, transverse vaginal septum) and
prolapse of vagina and / or uterus)
Hind quarters, posterior part of udder and even for
disarticulation and amputation of the lower hind limb
TECHNIQUE (Epidural Anesthesia)-1

Penile sheath (Circumcision of the sheath)

Surgical preparation of the injection site with
any Iodine based solution
Hold the tail straight in left hand and pass the
index finger of the right hand on the posterior
mid-sacrum backwards till you feel a depression.
This depression is the land mark for the
sacrococcygeus space
TECHNIQUE (Epidural Anesthesia)-2

Take a 16 gauge, 4 cm long sharp pointed

needle and introduce it for about 2.5 to 3
cm in the depression (exactly on the
midline) at an angle of 50 to 60 degrees
No blood should come out through the
needle. If it does, withdraw the needle and
reintroduce it.
TECHNIQUE (Epidural Anesthesia)-3

Attach the syringe to the needle and

deposit the drug in the epidural space
Induction period is 10 to 15 minutes and
onset of anesthesia is exhibited by flaccidity
of the tail, relaxation of the anal sphincter
and desensitization of skin in the perineal
and hind quarter region.
TECHNIQUE (Epidural Anesthesia)-4
Recovery Period:
2 to 4 hours with 30 to 50 ml of anesthetic
drug. However, individual variability may
exist.
Note: If the needle is correctly placed /
positioned, no resistance is felt during
injection.