Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia in a dog

To report use of combined spinal epidural anesthesia for tail resection and surgical exploration of the pelvic canal and the perineal-pararectal area in a dog.

A 4-month-old, 13 kg male Collie dog.

Under inhalant anesthesia, an epidural catheter was threaded through a Tuohy needle at L5-L6. Then using a Whitacre spinal needle bupivacaine and fentanyl were administered in the subarachnoid space at L6-L7 level. Fifteen minutes later, morphine was administered epidurally. Bupivacaine and morphine were administered epidurally 4 hours after the subarachnoid injection.

No cardiorespiratory response to surgical stimulation was observed. Postoperative analgesia was satisfactory, and the catheter was removed 30 hours later. No complications or neurologic sequelae occurred before discharge or were noted 10 days later.

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia provided excellent intraoperative anesthesia and perioperative analgesia in a dog undergoing surgery involving the pelvic canal.

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia can be performed in dogs, and its use should be considered in major surgeries caudal to the diaphragm, as the epidural catheter allows cranial extension of the block, providing excellent intraoperative anesthesia and perioperative analgesia.