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Anesthesiology

Equine Hospital

Ensuring safe, controlled sedation and general anesthesia for your horses with our specialized Equine Anesthesiology service.

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Our Equine Anesthesiology service provides safe and effective sedation and anesthesia for horses undergoing surgical or diagnostic procedures. Ensuring the comfort and safety of your horse is paramount to us, and we take all precautions to mitigate risk.

Our anesthesiology team is specifically trained in equine anesthesia, understanding the unique physiological characteristics of horses. Whether it's for a brief diagnostic procedure or a complex surgery, our team is equipped to provide the best anesthetic care for your horse.

The staff was amazing to work with! My teenage son's first and new horse made this a very nervous situation. The doctors and staff were wonderful in explaining everything to both myself and my son. Great experience dealing with Purdue's Equine Hospital!

Kelly S.

Request an Appointment

We’re here to partner with you and your veterinarian to provide specialized care for your horse. Whether you're scheduling a routine evaluation or follow-up after a referral, our team is ready to help you take the next step.

To request an appointment, please call or text us at 765-494-8548

For urgent needs or emergencies, our team is available 24/7 at 765-494-8548

Common Conditions

Anesthesia is commonly required in situations like:

  1. Surgical procedures: Whether elective or emergency, such as colic surgery or fracture repair.
  2. Dental procedures: Including tooth extractions and dental balancing.
  3. Diagnostic procedures: Such as endoscopy or radiography, where movement must be controlled.

When your horse requires anesthesia for a procedure, request an appointment with our Equine Anesthesiology service.

Common Procedures

Our Equine Anesthesiology service administers:

  1. General anesthesia: For surgeries or procedures where the horse needs to be completely unconscious.
  2. Sedation: For minor procedures or situations where the horse needs to be calm and relaxed.
  3. Local anesthesia: To numb a specific area of the horse's body for minor procedures or pain relief.

To discuss the anesthesia options for your horse, request an appointment with us.

Special Equipment/Technology

Our Equine Anesthesiology service uses:

  1. Anesthesia machines: Specifically designed for equine patients, these ensure precise administration of anesthetic gases.
  2. Patient monitoring equipment: To continuously monitor the horse's vital signs during anesthesia.
  3. Recovery stalls: Specifically designed for the safe recovery of horses post-anesthesia.

To learn more about our equipment and anesthetic practices, request an appointment with us.

Common Questions

How is my horse's safety ensured during anesthesia?
We use modern anesthetic drugs, tailored individual protocols, and continuous monitoring to ensure the safety of your horse.

Will my horse feel pain during the procedure?
No, our goal is to ensure your horse is comfortable and pain-free during any procedure requiring anesthesia.

What is the recovery like after anesthesia?
Horses are typically up and moving within a few hours of anesthesia, and our team closely monitors them during this period.

For more questions about our Anesthesiology services, request an appointment with us.

At-Home Tips

Post-anesthesia, consider the following:

  1. Monitor your horse: Watch for any changes in behavior or signs of discomfort.
  2. Keep your horse comfortable: Ensure your horse has a clean, quiet space to rest and recover.
  3. Follow post-anesthesia instructions: This may include feeding modifications or activity restrictions.

If you have any concerns post-anesthesia, request an appointment with our Equine Anesthesiology service.

Anesthesiology Team

Clinicians

Nurses/Technicians

Residents

    More about Anesthesiology

    Responsibilities

    The anesthesiologist’s main task is to provide safe, optimal anesthesia, specifically tailored to your pet. They are trained to anticipate, recognize, and care for any concerns associated with anesthesia.

    The anesthesiologist will monitor your pet thoroughly during surgery and throughout anesthetic recovery. They will be constantly on guard for changes in breathing, heart function, blood pressure and other complications that may occur. The anesthesiologist’s sole responsibility is the safety of your pet during anesthesia.

    The anesthesiologist is responsible for a pre-anesthetic evaluation of your pet, care of your pet while under general anesthesia, recovery from anesthesia, pain management and the direction of any non-veterinarian staff who assist in the technical aspects of your pet’s anesthetic care.

    In addition to assuring the highest possible standards of care for your pet during anesthesia, anesthesiologists know how to make the operative procedure as comfortable as possible. An anesthesiologist knows how animals react to hospitals, surgery, and pain. The anesthesiologist will work with your pet’s surgeon to improve the quality of your pet’s recovery and the entire hospital stay.

    Diplomates of the ACVA

    Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists are Doctors of Veterinary Medicine that have completed advanced specialty training in anesthesiology and have passed a board exam certifying them as experts in the anesthetic care of veterinary patients. The training process requires completion of an internship, residency and the publication of a scientific paper. It usually takes an additional four years of training after graduation from Veterinary Medical School to be eligible for specialty board certification.

    Only veterinarians who have successfully completed the certification requirements of the ACVA are Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists and have earned the right to be called specialists in veterinary anesthesiology.

    What is the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists (ACVA)? The ACVA is the American Veterinary Medical Association’s specialty board which sets the standards for advanced professionalism in veterinary anesthesiology. In 2007, the ACVA included 158 Diplomates. Nearly all ACVA Diplomates practice anesthesia at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospitals across North America. Some are in private specialty practices. The ACVA defines the standards of anesthesia excellence for the veterinary profession. It also promotes advancements in veterinary anesthesiology and provides the latest in anesthesia educational programs. By fostering the highest standards of excellence in veterinary anesthesiology, the ACVA is helping the veterinary profession achieve its goals of providing outstanding care to animals and service to the public.

    Pet Owner Concerns

    Whenever a patient undergoes a procedure, there is always risk of complication. Surgical risk and anesthetic risk are different. Some patients have a higher anesthetic risk due to their body size, age, or physical condition even though the surgical risk for a procedure may be minimal. In contrast, certain surgical and diagnostic procedures carry an increased anesthetic risk in all patients due to the nature of the procedure.

    In Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospitals and some private hospitals, you may request that a Board Certified Veterinary Anesthesiologist anesthetize your pet. The board certified anesthesiologist will provide the highest possible standard of care available for your pet.