Intrathecal mepivacaine after general anesthesia is an effective method of equine euthanasia when compared to intravenous pentobarbital.

Am J Vet Res. May 2023;84(5):.

Kate Alexander, Embry Simon, Khursheed Mama, Sangeeta Rao, Luke Bass

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:This study aims to assess intrathecal mepivacaine for euthanasia in anesthetized horses and compare it to a traditional euthanasia method using a single intravenous injection of pentobarbital in sedated horses.

ANIMALS:Client-owned horses and horses requiring euthanasia due to involvement in concurrent research projects were used. Horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: intrathecal mepivacaine after anesthesia or intravenous pentobarbital after sedation. All horses had normal vital parameters and no signs of infectious disease at the time of euthanasia.

PROCEDURES:The intrathecal mepivacaine group was anesthetized before the intrathecal injection of mepivacaine. The pentobarbital group was sedated, concurrently anesthetized and euthanized using intravenous pentobarbital, then received an intrathecal saline (0.9% NaCl) solution injection to a blind observer. Both groups were sedated with detomidine and the time from sedation to the cessation of vital parameters (respirations, pulse, corneal reflex, and ECG) was recorded. Euthanasias were recorded for review by a blinded anesthesiologist, using an independent scale to assess the quality of sedation, anesthesia induction, and lateral recumbency.

RESULTS:Time from detomidine administration to cessation of each vital parameter was significantly longer in the intrathecal mepivacaine group. There was no statistically significant difference in qualitative scores between groups for sedation or induction, but lateral recumbency was subjectively superior in the anesthetized intrathecal mepivacaine group.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Intrathecal mepivacaine provided a safe, effective, alternative method of euthanasia to intravenous pentobarbital and addresses concerns about barbiturate availability. This study also informs practitioners of what to expect (ie, longer cessation of vital parameters) when using the intrathecal mepivacaine method.

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

A survey of male and female dairy calf care practices and opportunities for change.
The survey had a 7.4% response rate (n = 289/3,924) and was primarily filled out by farm owners (76%). Although colostrum and milk feeding practices were similar between male and female calves, male calves received less milk while still on the dairy farm of origin, compared with females. Male calves were also more likely to be fed a higher proportion of raw, unsalable milk. Female producers and those that kept their male calves beyond 10 days of age had lower odds of using poorer feeding practices for male calves.

Delayed embryonic development or a long sperm survival in two mares-A registration conundrum.
Donor mares were inseminated with semen from one stallion during one oestrous cycle and semen from a different stallion on the subsequent oestrous cycle. Embryo(s) were collected 8?days after ovulation during the second oestrous cycle and transferred into synchronised recipient mares. Genetic testing was performed to determine parentage of the two foals. For both foals, DNA parentage testing excluded the second stallion as the genetic sire and confirmed that the first stallion, whose semen was inseminated on the previous oestrous cycle, was the actual genetic sire.

Head and dental injuries among farriers and hoof care practitioners: A nationwide survey in Switzerland.
Head/face injuries were more frequently reported by farriers than hoof care practitioners (60.6% and 20.7%, respectively). The rate of dental injuries, mainly related to a horse kick, was 11.1% and 1.9% among farriers and hoof care practitioners, respectively. Negligence in wearing mandatory eye protection was reported by 37.5% of respondents.

A review of adverse events in animals and children after secondary exposure to transdermal hormone-containing medicinal products.
The clinical signs reported in animals included persistent signs of oestrus, poor growth rate, and birth defects. In humans, reported clinical signs included precocious puberty, unresolved virilisation, accelerated growth rate, and female infertility.

Approach to dealing with acute heart failure in cats and dogs
The general principles of heart failure management can be applied to a broad range of cardiac diseases; identifying a cardiac cause for the clinical signs is therefore more important than making a definitive diagnosis in the acute phase of heart failure. Nevertheless, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ recipe for treatment and the approach needs to be tailored to the individual.