VET notes
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
● What general anaesthesia is
● How it works
● What the risks are
IF A VET needs to carry out certain medical procedures on a horse or pony, general anaesthesia (GA) will potentially be used, whereby a drug will be given to the equine to put him into a state of unconsciousness. GA is used for both routine and emergency operations, such as colic surgery.
Some procedures, including castrations and dental extractions, can be performed while the horse is standing up under heavy sedation, with the area being treated injected with a local anaesthetic. However, in some situations, a general anaesthetic is required due to the type of surgery or to allow for a better outcome.
What, therefore, is involved in a GA and how is it carried out?
Before we start
As with human GA procedures, the horse will be checked first to ensure that he’s healthy enough to undergo general anaesthesia. This will include obtaining a history of any current medical conditions while also
