Restraint and Anesthesia of Uncommon Veterinary Patients Bruce H
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Volume 47 | Issue 1 Article 9 1985 Restraint and Anesthesia of Uncommon Veterinary Patients Bruce H. Garver Iowa State University Larry L. Jackson Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastate_veterinarian Part of the Anesthesia and Analgesia Commons, and the Veterinary Medicine Commons Recommended Citation Garver, Bruce H. and Jackson, Larry L. (1985) "Restraint and Anesthesia of Uncommon Veterinary Patients," Iowa State University Veterinarian: Vol. 47 : Iss. 1 , Article 9. Available at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastate_veterinarian/vol47/iss1/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Iowa State University Veterinarian by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Restraint and Anesthesia of Uncommon Veterinary Patients Bruce H. Garver, BS* Larry L. Jackson, DVM, MS, DACVA** Inttbduction Anesthesia The presentation of small mammals, birds, The variations in anatomical features, size, and reptiles as patients can create consider percent body-fat, metabolism, drug sensitivi able problems for the veterinarian. Oftenti ties, and pre-anesthetic health of the animal mes the veterinarian feels uncomfortable han must be considered when anesthesia is to be dling uncommon pets for fear of injury to the administered. Ambient temperature is an im pet or clinic staff. This often sends the veteri portant consideration. Many anesthetics alter narian searching through textbooks hoping to the animals thermoregulatory mechanism, find a short and concise section dealing with therefore, it is necessary to keep anesthetized the patient at hand. With the knowledge of animals warm. The method of administration large variations existing in attitude, drug sen of the anesthesia must also be considered. In sitivities, and metabolism, veterinarians must many smaller animals it is virtually impossi have the ability to competently handle these ble to administer anesthesia intravenously, animals. The manner in which veterinarians while in larger animals it may be impossible approach and handle animals is of utmost im to restrain them enough to give anesthetics portance since the owner is often present. intravenously. Parenteral administration of Evaluation of the veterinarian by the client is anesthetics in uncommon animals is safer, be partially determined by the ability of the vet cause of the ease of administration and the erinarian to treat the animal in a means that effective dose can be controlled more closely. the owner accepts as proper. The pet, no mat The therapeutic index ofvarious anesthetics is ter how uncommon, is important to the client also a major consideration when the weight on an emotional level and a financial level. and general condition of the animal have to be Therefore, it is essential that the animal be estimated prior to anesthesia. Anesthetics handled, restrained, and treated with skill and. with higher therapeutic indices are preferred confidence. This guide has been developed as so that the health of the animal is not compro a quick and accurate reference for the veteri mised. Finally, the efficacies of various anes narian to aid in the restraint and anesthesis of thetics have to be considered so that the ani uncommon patients. mal will be immobilized for the desired length of time without being endangered by the ef Restraint fects of prolonged anesthesia. The art of proper restraint involves the study and observation of various restraint Mice methods, incorporation of these methods, and Most mice will attempt to bite when application of the methods to the patient at handled and should be picked up by the base hand. These descriptions of restraint are not of the tail. The mouse should then be placed the only methods of restraint for a particular on a rough surface, while maintaining a grip species, but methods that work. on the tail. The mouse will try to crawl away, and remain immobile. This enables the ani mal to be grasped by the scruff of the neck *Mr. Garver is a fourth-year student in the College of with the forefinger and thumb of the free Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. **Dr. Jackson is a professor of Clinical Sciences at hand. The mouse can then be lifted off the Iowa State University. surface and handled safely. 1.2 46 Iowa State University Veterinarian Ketamine hydrochloride at a dosage of 44 mg/kg 1M is recommended for short periods of anesthesia in the hamster. This will provide light anesthesia for a period of 20 to 25 min utes. 8 Ketamine at 44 mg/kg with xylazine at 4 to 8 mg/kg 1M will provide 45 to 60 minutes of analgesia. 10 Sodium pentobarbital has also been described for use in hamsters at a dosage of 60 to 90 mg/kg IP. The IP injection given in the lower abdomen just off the midline pro duces an anesthetic state for 30 to 45 min The more common routes of anesthesia ad utes.2.10 Like the other rodents, hamsters can ministration in rodents are subcutaneous also be induced in a jar on induction chamber (SC), intramuscular (1M), and intraperito with methoxyflurane or halothane and then neal (IP). Ketamine hydrochloride at the do maintained at 1.0 to 1.5 percent with a mask sage of 22 to 44 mg/kg 1M will provide light using a non-rebreathing apparatus. 8 anesthesia for 15 to 25 minutes.2.8 Ketamine Gerbils hydrochloride at 44 mg/kg in combination Gerbils that are handled regularly can often with xylazine at 4 to 8 mg/kg 1M will provide be picked up in the palm of the hand. HOVI more muscle relaxation and a longer period of ever, if the animal is aggressive it can be anesthesia. 10 For longer procedures the use of picked up by the base of the tail and grasped halothane or methoxyflurane inhalation anes by the scruff as described for the mouse. Cau thesia has been used safely. Halothane can be tion should be exercised to avoid injuring the volatized in a stream of oxygen and pumped delicate skin of the tail.1 into a jar or small chamber for induction and Ketamine hydrochloride at a dosage of the animal can be maintained on gas using a about 44 mg/kg 1M is suggested for short pro n1ask. cedures of 15 to 25 minutes.2 Ketamine and Concentrations of 1.0 to 1.5 percent are xylazine combinations at 44 mg/kg and 4 to 8 suggested. 9 The body temperature should be mg/kg respectively, given 1M, provide longer maintained by placing the mouse on a heating periods of analgesia and sedation. 10 Anesthe pad or wrapping it in aluminum foil. 1The use sia of two to three hours can be obtained by of ether has been described. Research has the SC or IP injection of a sodium pentobar shown that ether causes considerable irrita bital at 60 mg/ml.4.10 tion of the bronchial tree and may predispose The use of methoxyflurane or halothane in the animal to respiratory problen1s postopera an induction chamber and maintenance using tively. Irritation to the eyes and the pads of a mask at 1.0 to 1.5 percent concentration are the feet also occurs if the animal is not prop also suggested. 8 erly separated by padding from the ether.1 Metomidate 50 mg/kg and fentanyl 0.05 mg/kg, diluted in saline to give a convenient Hamsters volume, can be mixed and administered SC A pet hamster can be handled by cupping to give about 45 minutes of anesthesia.1 the palms of the hand and lifting the animal clear of the cage. However, if the animal is Rats uncontrollable it may be grasped by the scruff Pet rats are usually not aggressive and can of the neck. The skin in the region of the neck be safely handled by picking. them up with the is very loose, and a good amount of skin must hand around the shoulders. Grasping the rat be grasped to prevent the animal from turn too tightly will cause the animal to panic and ing and biting the handler. This is necessary bite the handler. The rat resents most clinical when performing clinical procedures. Bites procedures, and the thumb of the hand grasp from these small rodents are painful but rarely ing the rat can be placed under the mandible cause serious injury. If the animal bites and to prevent the animal from biting. If the rat is refuses to relax its grasp, do not try to pull it very agitated it can be handled like the free, but place the animal back in its cage. mouse. Rats should not be grasped by the Once within its cage the animal will release its scruff ofthe neck because it is very uncomfort grasp.1.2 able to the rat.2 VOL. 47) No. 1 47 Short periods of anesthesia can be obtained and dose miscalculation due to a full stom by 1M injection of ketamine hydrochloride at ach. 10 Complete recovery may take as long as the dosage of 20 to 50 mg/kg. The lower end 12 hours and it may be necessary to supple of the dosage range should be used for ment heat and turn the animal periodically to younger rats. 2 Sodium pentobarbital can also prevent pulmonary congestion during that be used 1M in rats at the dosage of 30 to 50 time. 4 ,10 mg/kg. This has proven to be a safe means of Guinea pigs can also be induced in a cham anesthesia in rats and has been used for years ber and maintained on methoxyflurane or ha ip lab animal medicine.