Equine Anesthesia and Pain Management

Staffed with a team of board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists, anesthesia residents, and specially trained technicians, Equine Anesthesia and Pain Management operates 24/7 to meet the needs of your horse.

A comprehensive plan specific to your horse is created to maximize both safety and comfort. Every horse is monitored and supported continuously from induction to recovery, including electrocardiogram, capnography, pulse oximetry, direct arterial blood pressure measurement, anesthetic agent concentration, and advanced mechanical ventilation capabilities.

To learn more about what we offer for small animals, visit the Small Animal Anesthesia and Pain Management service.

Services

• Personalized general anesthesia for horses of all ages, breeds, and sizes, including neonatal foals and heavy draft horses
• Comprehensive anesthesia care for a variety of livestock species, including goats, sheep, cattle, and pigs
• Emergency care 24/7 for the region’s most critical cases (e.g., colic, dystocia, trauma)
• Pain consultation and treatment for patients of any hospital service, including local anesthetic techniques, epidural catheter placement, and infusion therapy
• Use of multi-modal advanced pain management strategies
• Specialized techniques such as sling-assisted recovery for high-risk horses
• Ultrasound-guided local anesthetic and vascular access procedures
• Customized sedation for standing surgical procedures
• Support for horses presenting with neurologic deficits

Specialized technology

• 5 padded induction/recovery stalls connected directly to 3 operating rooms and our diagnostic imaging services
• Continually updated advanced anesthetic monitoring equipment
• Sophisticated and precise piston-driven mechanical ventilators
• On-site blood donor horses available when transfusions are required
• Anesthetic maintenance with desflurane, a rapid washout inhalant anesthetic available at only a few equine hospitals in the country