about the health of the horse!
Once surgery is complete, the horse will be disconnected from the anaesthetic gas and moved using the hoist to a padded recovery box. The horse will be positioned on it’s side and in such a way to give it the best chance of standing up. The horse’s bladder will be emptied one last time, and it may receive a top up of sedation so it regains consciousness more gently. The tube in the horse’s windpipe is leſt in place until the anaesthetist is happy the horse has control of its airway. Horses are obligate nasal breathers so once the rubber tube is removed from the mouth, the nostrils take back over the responsibility of delivering air to the windpipe. To ensure this happens and overcome any possible swelling, a rubber nasal tube is sometimes inserted which the horse will snort out once it is ready.
site and/or remove your horse’s shoes, but regardless their feet will be taped up. They will then receive their pre-med and be moved to a padded induction area. During the induction, your horse will receive anaesthetic drugs, which will cause it to loose consciousness and thus sink to the floor. Before the drugs wear off a tube is placed by the veterinary anaesthetist via the mouth into the windpipe. This tube is then connected to an anaesthetic machine, which delivers anaesthetic gas and oxygen to the horse’s lungs keeping it anaesthetised. Your horse is moved to where the surgery is to be performed using hobbles and a large winch; they may have their bladder catheterised and intravenous fluids started too. If there is an injured leg then the horse can be moved just using three legs. Surgery is usually performed on a padded operating table with various ties, inflatable pads and wedges to keep the horse in the optimal position for the surgeon and to keep pressure off their delicate muscles and lungs. During the surgery the anaesthetist constantly monitors your horse’s parameters including heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, fluids, depth of anaesthesia and makes adjustments accordingly. They are the only one who dares tell the surgeon to hurry up, if they have any concerns
As your horse starts to regain consciousness, the anaesthetist and their team watch them very closely. Being herbivores, the horse’s natural reaction is to stand up and be ready to run away from danger, therefore everything during recovery is
kept very quiet and calm. The ideal scenario is that the horse rolls onto its breastbone, sits up for a while and then gently stands up. Due to their size and their reduced co-ordination, during recovery it is not safe to help them to their feet using people. Ropes, padded walls and water have all been used to assist horses to their feet remotely with varying success, but most only intervene if the horse is endangering it’s life. Once steady on their feet, your horse is walked back to a stable and once fully awake offered a feed that will get their digestive system working. They will be closely monitored until they are back to normal.
1% of healthy horses die under anaesthetic irrespective of the procedure performed, so putting a horse under general anaesthetic, even electively, carries risks and should be discussed in depth with both surgeon and anaesthetist. Each case will have very specific needs and your vets will tailor their plan accordingly. That being said, general anaesthetics are sometimes unavoidable. Your trusted vets understand the risks involved and reduce them wherever clinically possible to strive to achieve the best outcome for your horse.
Should you want to know more in depth information about equine anaesthesia then do get in touch!
About the author:
Laura Hart BVM&S CertAVP MRCVS Avonvale Equine Practice, Ratley Lodge, Ratley, Banbury OX15 6DT
www.avonvaleequine.co.uk Tel: 01295 670501
Before joining Avonvale, Laura served in the British Army with tours of Iraq and Afghanistan (RAVC) and in London (House- hold Cavalry Mounted Regiment). Laura’s passion is dentistry and she is a BARTA instructor (British Animal Rescue & Trauma Care Association). Laura is an Advanced Veterinary Practitioner and is working towards advanced status in Equine Dentistry
Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements THE SUMMER SPECIAL 2020 09
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