Equine Anesthesia Techniques

There are always risks associated with using anesthesia on your horse, even for simple procedures. The risks increase if the horse has to be laid down for long and complicated surgeries to relieve problems such as colic. There are several options and drug combinations your veterinarian may select based on what is best for your horse and the necessary procedure.

  1. Local and Regional Anesthesia

    • Your veterinarian will often use local anesthesia to diagnose a condition, such as lameness, as well as for treatment, according to Austin, Texas-based veterinarian Janet Roark. These are also referred to as nerve blocks, and will deaden one area to isolate a source of discomfort, or to treat an area such as for suturing a laceration. An epidural is an example of a regional anesthesia, affecting larger areas, or areas that are distal, or far away, from a tourniquet, for example.

    Intravenous Anesthesia

    • Commonly referred to as field anesthesia, intravenous anesthesia is used for simple procedures, such as castrations, that can be completed fairly quickly. The dose and type of anesthetic drug used determines the level of depression in the central nervous system, ranging from just drowsiness or mild sedation, to general anesthesia, meaning your horse is fully sedated, according to Dr. Roark.

    Inhalation Anesthesia

    • Inhalation anesthesia is what veterinary surgeons use for complex and involved procedures, such as colic surgery, joint surgery and fracture repairs. The horse is induced with an intravenous anesthesia and then maintained with inhaled anesthetics throughout the surgery's duration. These procedures routinely take more time and carry greater risks.

    Complications

    • All anesthesia has potential complications and dangers. One of the most common is the tendency of a horse to become excited upon waking and injure itself as it gets up. Because of the weight of the horse, prolonged sedation can cause respiratory problems, as the contents of the horse's stomach press against the diaphragm. This is why you do not see healthy horses lie down for long periods of time.