ICVA Exotic Animal Anesthesia 3

Question 1

Which local anesthetic is contraindicated in birds due to its high cardiotoxicity and narrow safety margin?

Accepted Answer

Bupivacaine

Answer

Bupivacaine has a very narrow safety margin in avian patients and can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias even at low doses.

Question 2

An anesthetized ball python is not responding to surgical stimulation. Which physiological parameter best confirms adequate anesthetic depth in snakes?

Accepted Answer

Loss of righting reflex and loss of tongue flick response

Answer

In snakes, loss of the righting reflex combined with absence of the tongue flick response are the most reliable indicators of surgical anesthetic depth.

Question 3

Which anesthetic agent is most commonly used for total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) in fish?

Accepted Answer

MS-222 (tricaine methanesulfonate)

Answer

MS-222 is the most widely used and FDA-approved agent for fish anesthesia, administered via immersion in buffered water.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of buffering MS-222 fish anesthetic solution with sodium bicarbonate?

Accepted Answer

To prevent gill irritation and maintain safe water pH

Answer

MS-222 is acidic and can severely irritate gill tissue and drop water pH; sodium bicarbonate neutralizes the solution to protect the fish.

Question 5

A rabbit undergoing ovariohysterectomy suddenly develops bradycardia under isoflurane. What is the most appropriate first intervention?

Accepted Answer

Reduce isoflurane and administer atropine or glycopyrrolate

Answer

Rabbits are prone to vagally-mediated bradycardia under inhalant anesthesia; reducing depth and giving an anticholinergic is the first-line response.

(ICVA) International Council for Veterinary Assessment Practice Test

(ICVA) International Council for Veterinary Assessment Practice Test

ICVA Exotic Animal Anesthesia 3