This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Here is an old post to the list from Brian Jacobsen, DVM on Sedation in Fjords: This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yes, I do find that Fjords usually do not need as much sedative as some other breeds of horses. Tennesse Walking Horses are similar in that they are notoriously easy to sedate. I once gave a Fjord mare a dose of sedative that should have made a Quarter Horse of the same weight a little wobbly, but not too bad. Well, the Fjord mare laid down and slept for half an hour. She could not be roused. Her vitals were fine and she was in no danger, but she just had to sleep it off. When she awoke she stood up and I did what it was I had wanted to do half-an-hour previously. Just within the last two months I have heard of two separate incidents where Fjords were given more sedative than they needed. Both situations were castrations. The most common sedative "routine" used to castrate a horse involves giving a sedative first, which makes them pretty wobbly, and then in about 5 minutes giving the actual anesthetic which causes them to lay down and be "out of it" enough for surgery. If the horse lays down after just the first injection, or looks like he's "bowing" (his front legs are stretched out straight and his chest is touching the ground, but his rear end is still way up in the air), then he got more sedative than he needed. The veterinarian may well have given the proper dose based on the horse's weight, but due to individual differences or breed differences, it was more than that particular horse needed. Usually the vet can go ahead with the second injection as planned and the surgery procedes normally after that. If a horse was given quite a bit more of the first sedative than he needed, in addition to "bowing" or lying down, he might actually become quite excited - the opposite of what the sedative is supposed to do. This can reportedly happen occasionally in a horse even with proper dosages. There is a Fjord breeder who was getting very disheartened about having colts gelded because every time they tried, the colt would start to lay down after just the first injection, and then suddenly become so agitated and excited they couldn't even hold on to him. And their Fjords are normally very easy-going and well-handled. They are going to ask their veterinarian to back off on the dose a fair amount next time and see what happens, and I suspect that will take care of the problem. To those of you reading this, if your veterinarian seems reluctant to use a slightly lower dose after you have told them that many Fjords do not need as much, remind him/her that they can always add a little more to it in a few minutes if the first dose didn't give them the sedation they wanted. (Be careful - they may not like being told their business. If you are getting resistance, then it might be best to phrase it in a question like "Well, can't you start with a slightly lower dose and then just give a little more if you need it?") Keep in mind too that one reason they might argue with you about using a lower dose is that you just told them that Fjords react in some ways more like a mule than a horse. Mules are notoriously HARD to sedate, meaning they need MORE than a horse of the same size! Also, you may have just told him that since Fjords have such big bone, they weigh more than another horse of the same height, so he was planning on using more not less. Finally, remember that if the horse, Fjord or otherwise, is already excited or scared etc before the sedative is given, it probably won't affect them as much as ordinarily would be expected. Also, some Fjords, due to individual differences, may take multiple doses and much more sedative than was thought at first just to get them where you need them. God makes horses all different just as He does people. Brian Jacobsen, DVM Norwegian Fjordhest Ranch Salisbury, North Carolina
