Anesthesia

Last Updated on November 8, 2022.

• Anesthesia is an induced state of unconsciousness in animals.
• Veterinarians may anesthetize your hedgehog to examine it thoroughly or during a procedure that requires the hedgehog to remain still.
• Anesthesia is also necessary for surgery.
• Three components are involved in this process: analgesia (pain relief), amnesia (loss of memory), and immobilization
• Within the components there are numerous stages
  • Stage 1: (voluntary excitement): heart rate and respiratory rate increase; this is usually where the animal will struggle in confusion
  • Stage 2: (involuntary excitement): Loss of consciousness
  • Stage 3: General anesthesia
    • Plane 1: light anesthesia (reflexes are still present)
    • Plane 2: medium anesthesia (surgical level with muscles relaxed)
    • Plane 3: deep anesthesia (breathing endangered)
    • Plane 4: too deep (diaphragm is paralyzed)
  • Stage 4: (irreversible anesthesia): respiratory arrest
• Recovery stages work in reverse from stage 4 back to stage 1
• The preferred method in small animals is isoflurane gas
  • This is done in induction chamber than switched to a face mask for maintenance
  • Endotracheal intubation is nearly impossible
• The smaller trachea of hedgehogs makes it difficult to tube the animals unlike cats and dogs
• Injectable agents can also be used though not as popular
  • Ketamine can be used alone or in combination with diazepam (intramuscular)
  • Tiletamin/zolazepam in combination
  • Halothane and methoxyflurane are used for shorter procedures, but isoflurane is preferred for longer procedures
  • Patient physical condition is usually used as the primary method for determining the method of anesthesia

For more information: Pharmacology- intravenous anesthetic agents and dissociatives A lecture by Lyon Lee DVM PhD DACVA Intravenous Anesthetic Agents (westernu.edu)

or Small Animal Anesthesia Guide by Robert Stein DVM Anesthesia Guide for small animals in Veterinary medicine – SMALL ANIMAL ANESTHESIA GUIDE Dr. Bob – StuDocu