Anesthetization, Dissection

and Subdivision
Ch r i st ian R . Pa n gi linan
In s t ru ctor

Anesthetization
The ability to reduce the motility of the organism as well as the pain
brought by the handling and dissection
The process of rendering insensible, specially to pain, by means of
anesthetics; the act or operation of applying anesthetics.

Local Anesthesia
It provides pain control for a specific location of the body.
Examples include an epidural before surgery on a rear limb, or a nerve
block before a tooth extraction
The local anesthetics prevent the pain impulse from being read by
the brain.

Local Anesthesia
With animals, local anesthetics may provide pain control, but may not
be sufficient to keep the animal still during the procedure. In these
case, a sedative or general anesthetic is typically needed in conjunction
with a local anesthetic.
Lidocaine is an example of a local anesthetic which lasts about 1 -2
hours.
Lidocaine should be used with caution in animals with certain heart conditions or
liver disease.
It is used with caution in cats, since cats tend to be more sensitive to it than dogs.

Sedatives and Tranquilizers

Both are used to relax an animal for procedures such as trimming nails,
taking x-rays or drawing blood. These medications are injected either
into a muscle or directly into a vein.
Diazepam (Valium) and midazolam are tranquilizers that are used to
relax animals before surgery. They should not be used in pregnant
animals, since they could cause birth defects.
Azepromazine is another tranquilizer used as a preanesthetic. It should
not be used in animals that have zeisures, since it may increase the risk
of the animal having a zeisure. It may also cause hypotension (low
blood pressure)

Sedatives and Tranquilizers

Tranquilizers do not provide analgesia (pain relief). With any of these
medications, the animal may be groggy for the remainder of the day,
but should be able to stand and walk before he is allowed to go home.

General Anesthesia
General anesthetics are used when an animal needs to be unconscious
and unaware of what is being done for an extended period of time,
such as for surgery.
General anesthetics block the pain sensation, prevent movement
during surgery, and usually cause muscle relaxation.

Common anesthetic techniques

Pithing involves the destruction of the brain or spinal cord (or both)
of the animal to effect loss of sensation
Use of MgCl2 and MgSO4 makes marine animals relaxed avoiding
distortion in fixing fluid (usually polychaetes)
Hypothermia for fish, amphibians, and reptiles subjected to ice for
10-15 mins
Reduces muscle contraction and enzyme activity retarding autolysis.

Common anesthetic techniques

Aphixiation for gastropods
Removal of air in boiled water then sealed in jar
The animal is then placed in the boiled water after it has cooled

Ether, chloroform, and alcohol

Chloral hydrate/menthol sprinkled on the water surfaces for
annelids, molluskd, tunicates, bryozoans and turbellarians

Pithing

Dissection
The careful separation of anatomical parts
Removal of organs or parts of the organs from the body

Subdivision
The cutting of an organ region or the entire animal body into segments
or slices without destroying the natural relations of the various body
structures.