Cardiorespiratory dose-response relationship of isoflurane in Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) during spontaneous ventilation

Raptor Sedation and Anesthesia

Sedation and/or anesthesia is routinely and successfully used in raptors for a wide variety of procedures from the routine such as physical examination, radiographs, or venipuncture, to the more complex, such as orthopedic surgeries. Understanding the anatomy and physiology of raptor patients who present for care, and being fully prepared before the start of any procedure, can increase the success of anesthetic procedures. Recent advances in raptor sedation and anesthesia continue to improve the health and welfare of these avian patients.

Advancements in Evidence-Based Anesthesia of Exotic Animals

Anesthesia and sedation of pet nondomestic species are often necessary for both invasive and noninvasive procedures. Even minimally invasive procedures can be stressful for small prey species that are not domesticated or acclimated to human contact and restraint. Recent advancements in evidence-based practice will continue to improve the field based on scientifically sound best practices and rely less on anecdotal recommendations. This article focuses on new scientific literature that has been published in the past 5 years. For ease of reading, the authors divide the article to highlight advances in anesthetic pharmacology and discoveries in anesthetic physiology and monitoring.