46TH
ANNUAL
CONGRESS
OF
THE
SAEVA
SKUKUZA
16-‐20
FEBRUARY
2014
109
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Local anaesthetics are often used for regional and epidural anaesthesia. This is
strongly encouraged in surgical procedures. This will decrease the amount of
drugs required to achieve adequate sedation.
If intravenous and regional techniques are used in a horse than the clinician
must keep track of the total dose administered to avoid accidental
intoxication (Tranquilli et al. 2007, Hall et al. 2001).
Ketamine:
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Powerful somatic analgesic. Prevents or minimises central sensitisation
(Tranquilli et al. 2007, Hall et al. 2001).
Suggested to use in severe skin wounds and burns.
Loading bolus of 0.1 mg/kg followed by a constant rate infusion of 0.1 to 0.5
mg/kg/hr titrated to effect.
Usually not mixed with other drugs so that dose titration can be achieved.
Can be administered over a prolonged period of time (24 hours) to achieve
adequate analgesia in combination with NSAIDs and opioids.
Other drugs:
The clinician should always provide NSAIDs when indicated (Tranquilli et al. 2007,
Hall et al. 2001). This is especially true for all surgical procedures. There is no
evidence to support the routine use of benzodiazepines (diazepam, midazolam)
during standing sedation. This is due to their potential to cause ataxia and
excitement in horses. The judicious use of acetylpromazine (0.02 to 0.04 mg/kg
intramuscular) as a premedication a minimum of 40 minutes prior to initial bolus of
α2-adrenoreceprot agonists may have dramatic sparing effects (Tranquilli et al. 2007,
Hall et al. 2001). The anti-arrhythmic effects may also decrease the incident of
profound bradycardia seen with α2-adrenoreceptor agonists.
Suggested protocols that are proven to be effective are illustrated in Table 1.
Information on how to spike a drip bag 200 mL for constant rate infusion may also
be found in Table 2.
109