Injectable Sedatives, Tranquilizers, Analgesics and Anesthetics

29.1.7 Injectable Sedatives, Tranquilizers, Analgesics and Anesthetics Tranquilizers and sedatives help animals to temporarily become calmer and less reactive to noises, movement and pain.

Analgesics relieve pain.

Anesthetics fall into two categories: local and general.

-Local anesthetics are injected around the desired area or into the nerve that supplies the desired area. Local anesthetics prevent the nerves from feeling pain.

-General anesthetics work on the brain. An animal under a general anesthetic will appear to be asleep to the extent that it cannot be awakened. The animal given a general anesthetic will not move when a painful procedure is performed on it. General anesthetics are used most often to perform major surgery. They are also potentially dangerous and should be given only by veterinary doctors or an AHA who has received some special training.

Using Tranquilizers and Sedatives 1. To quiet an unruly animal for examination, transport, or putting on a cast or splint.

1. Can be given along with local anesthetics in order to perform suturing.

Warning:

1. If the animal is depressed or very sick, the tranquilizer may affect the animal more than usual. If the liver is not working well, it will take longer for the animal to awaken. A smaller dose may be given to help lessen the effects.

1. If the animal is highly excited before the tranquilizer is given, the animal may become even more excited, or the tranquilizer may have no effect at all.

1. These are potentially dangerous and should be given only by an AHA who has received some special training.

XYLAZINE

Indications: See above.

Warnings: Do not use alone if working around the back legs in horses.

Do not use if animal has heart problems.

Do not use in late pregnancy in cows, sheep, or goats, as it may cause abortions.

Do not use in cats.

Dosage and Route: Sedation 10-15 minutes after IM administration, lasts 1-2 hours; analgesia lasts 15-30 minutes.

Horse- Standing sedation 0.88-1.1 mg/kg IM.

Foals- 0.88-1.1 mg/kg IM Cows- 0.11-0.22 mg/kg IM.

Note: This dose will cause the cow to lie down. Give lower doses if standing tranquilization is desired. DO NOT GIVE IN LATE PREGNANCY.

Sheep- 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IM.

Note: Sheep are less sensitive to xylazine than cattle.

Goats- 0.1-0.15 mg/kg IM.

Note: Goats are more sensitive to xylazine than cattle.

Pigs- 2.2 mg/kg IM.

Note: Not reliably effective in pigs.

Llamas- 0.1-0.25 mg/kg SQ before ketamine or alone Guinea Pigs- 5 mg/kg IM with ketamine at 20-40 mg/kg mixed in the same syringe.

Lasts 15-35 minutes.

Rabbits- 4.0-5.0 mg/kg IM.

ACEPROMAZINE MALEATE

Onset of action 15-20 minutes after injection, lasts 2 hours.

Horse- 0.044-0.088 mg/kg IM Cows- 0.01-0.02 mg/kg IM Goats and Sheep- if weigh less than 50 kg, 0.1-0.2 mg/kg If weigh more than 50 kg, 0.05-0.10 mg/kg Pigs- 0.11-0.44 mg/kg IM, to a maximum of 15 mg.

Dogs- 0.062-0.25 mg/kg IM, or SQ.

May be given by mouth at 1.1-2.2 mg/kg.

Cats- 0.062-0.25 mg/kg IM, or SQ.

May be given by mouth at 1.1-2.2 mg/kg.

Using Analgesics (Pain Killers) (Novalgin, Paracetamol)

These are useful injections for animals with bad pain. It helps animals with foot and mouth disease to eat and move when their mouths and feet are painful. It helps animals after accidents, or with serious injuries like broken legs, to feel and eat better. Some analgesics are also used to lower fevers.

Dosage: See label for specific instructions Warning: Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories may cause stomach ulcers, especially in young animals.

ANALGIN

Dosage: Give IM. See label for specific instructions.

ASPIRIN

See Oral Medicines, 29.2.5 in this chapter.

DYPYRONE

See Page 63. Use according to label to bring down fever.

PARACETAMOL (Paracetol)

Dosage: Give IM. See label for specific instructions PHENYLBUTAZONE See Oral Medicines FLUNIXIN MEGLUMINE Indications: Works well for relieving belly pain, lowering fevers and helping counteract the poisons of some bacteria.

Horse- 1.1 mg/kg IM every 12 hours Warning: May get severe infection in the muscle when given IM. Use penicillin if the horse becomes infected in an injection spot. In young horses use one or two doses only as it may cause stomach ulcers.

Cow- 1.1 mg/kg IM. Give every other day.

Note: May cause stomach ulcers in young calves.

Llama- 1.1 mg/kg IM once daily Using Local Anesthetics (lidocaine, novocaine, lignocaine, and bucaine)

This can be used in all animals for injection under the skin. These medicines make the injected area unable to feel pain. They are used to inject under the skin of a wound which needs to be sutured.

These local anesthetics are usually available in about 2% solutions. If they are more concentrated than this, then dilute them with distilled water to about 2%.

Dosage and instructions: See pages 217, 218.

Using General Anesthetics These should be used only by a veterinary doctor or an AHA with special training.