Anesthetic Agents and Protocols Used in South American Camelids
Anesthetic Agents and Protocols Used in South American Camelids
Drug | Use | Dose | Caution | Reversal | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lidocaine | Local anesthesia and nerve blocks | 2–4 mg/kg | Doses >4 mg/kg are associated with toxicosis | ||
Epidural anesthesia | 1–2 mL | Do not add epinephrine | |||
Diazepam | Sedation | 0.05–0.2 mg/kg, IM or IV | Flumazenil 0.005–0.05 mg/kg, IM | ||
Butorphanol | Sedation | 0.05–0.1mg/kg, IM | Naloxone 0.03 mg/kg, IM | Butorphanol can be added to xylazine or other α2-adrenergic agonists for increased sedation and analgesia | |
Xylazine | Recumbent sedation | 0.25–0.35 mg/kg, IV (llamas) 0.35–0.45 mg/kg, IV (alpacas) | Atipamezole at 5 times the dose of xylazine in milligrams, IM | ||
Standing sedation | 0.08–0.15 mg/kg, IV or 0.15–0.2mg/kg, IV (llamas) or 0.15–0.2 mg/kg, IM or 0.2–0.3 mg/kg, IM (alpacas) | Reverse with atipamezole at 5 times the dose of xylazine in milligrams, IM | |||
Triple drip (5% guaifenesin [1 L], ketamine [1,000 mg/L], xylazine [50–100 mg/L]) | Longer procedures requiring recumbency and excellent muscle relaxation | For anesthetic induction: 1 mL/kg, IV; for maintenance of anesthesia: 2 mL/kg/hr, IV, as a continuous rate infusion | |||
Ketamine stun | Short minor procedures such as castrations requiring recumbency | Ketamine 0.22–0.33 mg/kg, xylazine 0.22–0.33 mg/kg, butorphanol 0.08–0.11 mg/kg (all drugs drawn up in one syringe and given IV) | This combination can also be given IM. Sedation will be slow onset and will not always cause recumbency |