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, locally infiltrated into target tissue | Doses >4 mg/kg are associated with toxicosis. | ||
Epidural anesthesia | 1–2 mL, epidurally | Do not add epinephrine. | |||
Diazepam | Sedation | 0.05–0.2 mg/kg, IV | Flumazenil 0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IV | ||
Butorphanol | Sedation | 0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IM or IV | 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 | Llamas: 0.25–0.35 mg/kg, IV Alpacas: 0.35–0.45 mg/kg, IV | Atipamezole at 0.1 times the dose of xylazine in milligrams, IM | ||
Standing sedation | Llamas: 0.08–0.15 mg/kg, IV; or 0.15–0.2 mg/kg, IM or SC Alpacas: 0.15–0.2 mg/kg, IV; or 0.2–0.3 mg/kg, IM or SC | Reverse with atipamezole at 0.1 times the dose of xylazine in milligrams, IM | |||
Triple drip (5% guaifenesin [1 L], ketamine [1,000 mg/L], xylazine [50–100 mg/L]) | Procedures < 60 min that require recumbency and excellent muscle relaxation | Induction: 1 mL/kg, IV Maintenance: 2 mL/kg/h, IV, CRI | |||
Ketamine stun | Short, minor procedures, such as castrations, that require recumbency | Ketamine (0.22–0.55 mg/kg) + xylazine (0.22–0.55 mg/kg) + butorphanol (0.08–0.11 mg/kg), all combined in one syringe, IV | This combination can also be given IM. Sedation will be slow onset and will not always cause recumbency. |