Navigating Amphibian Anesthesia and Analgesia
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Jb Minter, MS, DVM, DACZM
Jb Minter, MS, DVM, DACZM
JB Minter, MS, DVM, DACZM is a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine as a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM). He is currently the Director of Animal Health and Chief Veterinarian at the North Carolina Zoo, where he serves on the Zoo’s senior leadership team and oversees the veterinary operations. Dr. Minter is an accomplished researcher and is an author of over one hundred peer-reviewed publications and proceedings, as well as media spokesperson appearing on the Nat Geo WILD television series, “Secrets of the Zoo: North Carolina”. He has a special interest in anesthesia, amphibian nutrition, reproductive physiology, and the conservation and management of forest elephants in western Africa. Dr. Minter is a Professor Fellow of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), serves on the Veterinary Health Advisory Committee for both the Chimpanzee and Hamadryas Baboon Species Survival Plans, and as an AZA inspector. He mentors residents and teaches veterinary students as an adjunct assistant professor at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine.
Overview:
This presentation addresses the unique challenges of anesthesia and analgesia in amphibians, highlighting their ectothermic physiology, permeable skin, and varying metabolic rates. These factors significantly influence anesthetic and analgesic protocols for amphibians, which include frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. The talk covers the principles of anesthesia and pain management, with a focus on immersion and injectable anesthesia techniques, including the use of agents like MS-222, alfaxalone, and propofol. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and species-specific considerations. Pain management strategies such as opioids, local anesthetics, and NSAIDs are explored, along with the importance of preemptive and post-procedural analgesia.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand some of the unique physiological characteristics of amphibians and how their ectothermic nature and their permeable skin influence anesthesia and analgesia protocols.
- Compare and contrast the different anesthesia techniques used for amphibians, including immersion anesthesia and injectable anesthetics, and discuss the factors influencing their selection based on species and procedure complexity.
- Evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anesthetic agents commonly used in amphibians.
- Identify and apply appropriate analgesic strategies for amphibians, including the use of opioids, local anesthetics, and NSAIDs, and understand the challenges and considerations for effective pain management in amphibian species.
- Assess the potential risks and complications associated with amphibian anesthesia, including respiratory depression and overdose, and apply best practices to minimize these risks during clinical procedures
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
