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A COMPARISON OF A SINGLE-DART VERSUS STAGED TWO-DART ANESTHESIA INDUCTION PROTOCOL IN PRZEWALSKI’S HORSES (EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKII).
Abstract: Przewalski's horses () are an endangered equid species. Anesthesia administered by remote delivery is often needed to provide medical care. Behavioral and physiologic parameters were prospectively compared in 14 horses (8 females and 6 males, 3-18 yr) after a single-dart or staged two-dart anesthesia induction protocol with intramuscular medetomidine (0.06 mg/kg), butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg), thiafentanil (0.02 mg/kg), and ketamine (1 mg/kg). Seven horses were randomly assigned to receive all drugs in a single dart, and the other seven to receive medetomidine and butorphanol 10 min prior to thiafentanil and ketamine in a second dart. Induction and recovery quality were scored on a scale from 1 to 5 (worst to best), and video recordings were assessed for frequency of specific behaviors. Need for supplemental propofol was recorded. Median induction score was significantly better ( = 0.01) after two darts (4/5) compared to a single dart (3/5). Degree of muscle fasciculation (undesirable) during induction was significantly lower (= 0.006) with the two-dart protocol. During the transition to recumbency, 71% versus 14% of horses transitioned headfirst (undesirable) after a single dart versus two darts, respectively (= 0.07). Supplemental propofol administration was necessary in 43% of horses after two darts and in 100% of horses after a single dart (= 0.10) to facilitate intubation and reach a working depth of anesthesia. Physiologic and recovery parameters were not significantly different between groups. Improved induction quality was observed clinically using a staged two-dart versus a single-dart protocol and should be considered when anesthetizing captive Przewalski's horses using this drug combination.
Publication Date: 2021-06-17 PubMed ID: 34130387DOI: 10.1638/2020-0133Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Clinical Trial
- Veterinary
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research compares two methods of anesthesia administration in Przewalski’s horses, a single-dart and a staged two-dart protocol, and finds that the latter shows improved induction quality and should be considered when anesthetizing these horses.
Objective of Research
- The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of two anesthesia induction protocols on Przewalski’s horses – the single-dart and staged two-dart method. These horses are an endangered species, and remote delivery of anesthesia is often required to provide medical care. The goal was to compare the physiological and behavioral parameters generated by both methods and determine the better option.
Methods
- For this research, 14 Przewalski’s horses were used, comprising 8 females and 6 males aged between 3 and 18 years. These horses were randomly assigned to receive either a single-dart anesthesia induction, where all drugs were administered in one go, or a staged two-dart induction, where the drugs were provided in two stages.
- The drugs used for anesthesia were intramuscular medetomidine, butorphanol, thiafentanil, and ketamine. For the two-dart procedure, medetomidine and butorphanol were administered 10 minutes prior to thiafentanil and ketamine.
- Each horse’s induction and recovery quality were scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being worst and 5 being best. Specific behaviors were observed and noted from video recordings. The use of additional propofol was also tracked.
Results
- The results showed that the two-dart protocol significantly improved the induction score (4/5). This score was higher than that obtained from the single-dart protocol (3/5).
- The two-dart protocol also led to a reduction in the degree of muscle fasciculation that is typically undesirable during anesthesia induction.
- More horses transitioned headfirst (undesired) after a single dart (71%) in comparison to those that received two darts (14%).
- Additional propofol administration was needed in 43% of horses following the two-dart protocol and 100% of horses under the single-dart procedure. This was necessary to facilitate intubation and attain the appropriate anesthesia depth.
Conclusion
- While there were no significant differences in physiological and recovery parameters between the two groups, the research concluded that the staged two-dart protocol offers improved induction quality when compared to the single-dart protocol. Therefore, it’s recommended for use when anesthetizing captive Przewalski’s horses with this combination of drugs.
Cite This Article
APA
Ellis JS, Mama KR, Rao S, Sadler RA, Marinkovich M, Clancy MM, Howard LL, Lamberski N, Kinney ME.
(2021).
A COMPARISON OF A SINGLE-DART VERSUS STAGED TWO-DART ANESTHESIA INDUCTION PROTOCOL IN PRZEWALSKI’S HORSES (EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKII).
J Zoo Wildl Med, 52(2), 453-459.
https://doi.org/10.1638/2020-0133 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA, kmama@colostate.edu.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Services, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido, CA 92027, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Services, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido, CA 92027, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Services, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido, CA 92027, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Services, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido, CA 92027, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Services, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido, CA 92027, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Services, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido, CA 92027, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
- Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
- Anesthetics / administration & dosage
- Anesthetics / pharmacology
- Animals
- Animals, Zoo
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Horses
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
- Male
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