Sedation resistance?

[SilverBrumby]

Two months ago, I scheduled a standing castration for my colt (using injectable rather than oral sedation - I don't know the specific type/brand used). However, after using "double the dose he would usually give to a horse that size" my colt would still throw his head up whenever the vet approached him. The vet called off the castration saying that it would be unsafe to continue due to the colt not been sufficiently sedated.

Background: the colt is green - he has not been handled as much as I would like; however, he leads well and has a headcollar on (my point being he's not feral). He's just very nervous around multiple/new people.

We've intensified his training and we are now 2 months down the line from the failed castration attempt. I don't know whether to attempt standing castration again (assuming the sedation was ineffective due to anxiety which would hopefully now be reduced) or to take him to an equine hospital to have it done under general anaesthesia (as there is no guarantee sedation will work any better this time).

Has anyone had experience with sedation resistance? Did you find it could be overcome with training (therefore psychological rather than physiological) or would you stick to general anaesthesia to be safe?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I have worked with plenty of horses that if I hadnt seen the sedation drawn up myself I would swear the vet had just injected vitamins into the horse!

I've also had standing castrations where the horse is so whacked I could poke them and they would fall over but the second the scalpel touched their precious stones they lashed out so hard and fast you would swear they were fully conscious! We always ended up knocking those buggers out cold on the floor!

 

[Nicnac]

We had a TB who had raced and was pretty chilled as well as trained but fought sedation. Vet had to give him elephantine dose when he was undergoing treatment for hock arthritis.

I wouldn't have wanted anybody touching his undercarriage as at times he seemed sedated but then would snap out of it. It's adrenaline and don't think you can train them out of it. In your shoes, I'd take him to horsepital, they can try to do it under sedation but with the ability to put him right under if it doesn't work.

 

[SilverBrumby]

I have worked with plenty of horses that if I hadnt seen the sedation drawn up myself I would swear the vet had just injected vitamins into the horse!

I've also had standing castrations where the horse is so whacked I could poke them and they would fall over but the second the scalpel touched their precious stones they lashed out so hard and fast you would swear they were fully conscious! We always ended up knocking those buggers out cold on the floor!

Thank you very much for your response. I've never witnessed sedation resistance before so it took me by surprise. Knocking him out sounds like the safer/more practical option so I think you and the other person who has responded have nudged me over the line as far as that decision is concerned. Thanks again.

 

[SEL]

Sedating an Ardennes for a clip. Drunken swaying across the yard fully aware of what we wanted to do. Actually pretty dangerous given his size. We got enough in to do 2.5 legs properly and I had to finish with scissors. I was pretty quick too and wasn't trying to make it pretty.

Adrenaline I reckon.

 

[SilverBrumby]

We had a TB who had raced and was pretty chilled as well as trained but fought sedation. Vet had to give him elephantine dose when he was undergoing treatment for hock arthritis.

I wouldn't have wanted anybody touching his undercarriage as at times he seemed sedated but then would snap out of it. It's adrenaline and don't think you can train them out of it. In your shoes, I'd take him to horsepital, they can try to do it under sedation but with the ability to put him right under if it doesn't work.

Thank you very much for your response. It's helpful to hear from people who have seen this before as it was a surprise to both me and the vet. Taking him to the horsepital (ha) sounds like the safer/more practical option so I think you and the other person who has responded have nudged me over the line as far as that decision is concerned. Thanks again.

 

[SilverBrumby]

Sedating an Ardennes for a clip. Drunken swaying across the yard fully aware of what we wanted to do. Actually pretty dangerous given his size. We got enough in to do 2.5 legs properly and I had to finish with scissors. I was pretty quick too and wasn't trying to make it pretty.

Adrenaline I reckon.

It's mad, isn't it - a very powerful hormone! If only we could explain what we were trying to do (admittedly, that wouldn't have helped in my case given the procedure!). Thank you for your response.