Short-term General Anesthesia With Tiletamine/Zolazepam in Horses Sedated With Medetomidine for Castration Under Field Conditions

The objective of the study is to evaluate the anesthetic effect produced by the tiletamine/zolazepam association in horses sedated with medetomidine undergoing orchiectomy under field conditions. Ten uncastrated male horses, American Society of Anesthesiologists category I, undergoing orchiectomy, were enrolled in the study. The horses received acepromazine (0.03 mg kg−1 intramuscularly) 30 minutes before sedation with medetomidine (8 μg kg−1 intravenously). Anesthesia was induced with tiletamine/zolazepam (0.7 mg kg−1 intravenously). During anesthesia, heart rate (HR), pulse quality, respiratory rate, temperature, SpO2, movement, and reflexes were measured every 5 minutes. Arterial blood gases were evaluated before the premedication and during the surgical procedure. The quality of induction and recovery was recorded. The sedation was appropriate, and the quality of recovery was evaluated as good. A statistically significant difference was revealed between the basal and intra-anesthesia HR. No differences were observed in blood gas parameters during the procedure. The results suggested that general anesthesia produced with tiletamine/zolazepam for induction in horses sedated with medetomidine is suitable during orchiectomy under field conditions.