Macaw anaesthesia

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

sisterscope1 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:44:30 GMT

African Grey had his surgery today!

Anaesthetist sedated him with butorphanol and midazolam i.m followed by mask induction with sevo using a mask. He was intubated and maintained on sevo/02. ECG, SpO2, capnograph and doppler. Temp maintained at 38degC with Bairhugger and bubblewrape. Seemed to have a marked vagal response to the phaco probe in the eye but otherwise unremarkable, not bad for 42 years old. Worst part was removing the sticky drapes without plucking him bald!!

He was eating and drinking with some assistance 30mins after surgery and went home a couple of hours ago.

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

Suze — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:10:09 GMT

Our bird had to cancel appointment due to family bereavemant but thanks for all your comments.

Will be interested to hear how the Phaco goes on the african grey......keep me posted!

Susan.

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

sisterscope1 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:01:00 GMT

I didn't think Sevo was liscensed for birds? We've got an african grey in for phacoemulsification of it's cataracts in a couple of weeks....will keep you posted!

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

Emma Clark — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:46:24 GMT

We mask down with sevo, intubate and then maintain on o2/sevo using a ventilator. Works well, only parrots we've had die under GA have had underlying problems going on.

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

A Little TLC — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:20:01 GMT

Have always used Iso

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

les punton — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:20:05 GMT

my problems was a couple of years ago, we used iso. now changed to sevo mask down ............not had any probs yet

cue a bird death!

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

Carrie Apps RVN A1 CertExVN GradDipVN CSQP — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:53:29 GMT

The injectable medications are usualy given i.m - which can often cause muscle necrosis at the site.

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

Carrie Apps RVN A1 CertExVN GradDipVN CSQP — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:49:41 GMT

For quick procedures, like beak trimming, we always gas our avian patients down with 4-5% Isoflurane, turing down to 1.5-2% maintainance.

You can use injectable combinations, such as ketamine and medetomidine, or ketmaine and diazepam, for surgical procedures where the patient needs to be more relaxed, but induction and recovery can take longer (about 10 minutes for induction and up to 4 hours for recovey) and is often more traumatic for the patient than gassing down.

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:04:11 GMT

Have done birds of prey under masked induction, but will ask our anaesthetist tom and see what her suggests

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

Kim Buckley — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:46:37 GMT

Only ever used gassing down with sevo. Never had any problems with it though.

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

Suze — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:18:29 GMT

Afraid not! Have tried an injectable combo before that worked very well with a young goose but didnt have the ame suscess with the Macaw. The books give different suggestions of drug combos but always prefere to hear what people have experenced in real life with these things....

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

les punton — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:04:28 GMT

oh I just dread bird anaesthesia! I lost 2 birds under anaesthesia within a coule of weeks of each other (however they have been fine since then), admitedey both were really ill before we started but was still gutted.

Have you got a local specialist exotic who you could ask?

Re: Macaw anaesthesia

Maisy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:18:40 GMT

Have always gassed down the parrot types, especially for beak trims when they need it (unless very relaxed to be done conscious). If the bird is friendly wrap in a towel to mask down, or a small animal chamber if big enough otherwise. Normally they are lightly anaesthetised enough then to do the beak trim without any problems. I heard that if it advisable to avoid injectable sedation in birds though the reason wasn't given, would be interested to hear if anyone knows why?