Glyceryl Guaiacolate: Some Effects and Indications in Horses

Abstract

SUMMARY Ggl has a sufficiently wide therapeutic range for safe use in horses. Three to four times the amount required to cast a horse can be infused before death occurs. Tranquillized and untranquillized horses were cast using ggl. In other experimental groups, sodium thiamylal or sodium thiamylal and succinylcholine were added following premedication with ggl. Muscular rigidity and undesirable periods of struggling occurred occasionally during the casting procedure, and could not be prevented completely by either of the drug combinations used. Ggl was found useful when placing horses on tilting tables. The casting method described by Schebitz and Tronicke was equally safe. Effective casting was also achieved when the horse was supported by several men, or when it was placed in the corner of a box stall and allowed to slide down a wall after infusing the ggl and sodium thiamylal. Twenty‐three horses were cast seven times within 36 days using ggl combined with thiamylal or with thiamylal and succinylcholine. Anaesthesia was maintained on sodium thiamylal for periods varying between 15 and 70 minutes. Haematological studies before and after repeated casting revealed no significant changes. Ggl could be used as a short acting sedative in standing animals, and as a means of restraint for recumbent patients for transport or obstetrical manipulations. Some effects of chloral hydrate and ggl are compared. RÉSUMÉ Le gaiacolate de glyceryl présente une marge de sécurité suffisante pour permettre son emploi chez le cheval. Trois ou quatre fois la dose nécessaire pour coucher un cheval peut être administrée avant que ne survienne la mort. Des chevaux tranquillisés et ultra tranquillisés furent couchés en utilisant le gaiacolate de glyceryl. Dans d'autres groupes expérimentaux le thiamylal de sodium et la succinylcholine furent ajoutés a une prémédication utilisant le gaiacolate de glyceryl. Une certaine rigidité musculaire et des périodes désagréables d'agitation se produisirent parfois durant l'abattage et ne purent être complètement évitées quelle que soit l'association employée. Le gaiacolate de glyceryl parut spécialement utile pour placer des chevaux sur des tables basculantes. La méthode d'abattage décrite par Schabitz et Tromiche parut également satisfaisante. Un abattage efficace put également être réalisé quant l'animal put être soutenu par plusieurs hommes ou lorsqu'il fut placé dans l'angle d'un box de telle façon qu'il put glisser le long du mur après l'injection de gaiacolate de glyceryl et de thiamylal de sodium. Vingt trois chevaux furent abattus sept fois durant une période de 36 jours, en utilisant le gaiacolate de glyceryl en association avec le thiamylal et la succinylcholine. L'anesthésie fut maintenue sur le thiamylal de sodium pour des périodes allant de 15 à 70 minutes. Les contrôles hématologiques effectués avant et après abattage ne revèlèrent aucun changement significatif. Le gaiacolate de glyceryl put être utilisé comme sédatif bref sur l'animal debout, et comme moyen de contention pour des animau...

Use of guaiacol glycerine ether in clinical anaesthesia in the horse

“…This paper describes a safe technique for a controlled induction of anaesthesia using a combination of GGE (approximately 50 mg/kg bwt) and thiopentone (5.6 mg/kg bwt). The use of larger doses of GGE followed by a further reduced dose of thiopentone has been described (Funk 1973); however, the technique is associated with a greater incidence of ataxia before induction which can only be partially overcome by employing additional personnel to support the horse during induction of anaesthesia. An ataxic horse trying to regain its balance is likely to panic unless expertly controlled, and the risk of an excited induction is increased.…”

“…Funk (1970) reported the use of GGE in a variety of animal species. The use of GGE in the horse, in combination with intravenous (iv) or inhalational anaesthetic agents, has been widely reported (Gertsen and Tillotson 1968;Roberts 1968;Heath and Gabel 1970;Jackson and Lundvall 1970;Tavernor 1970;Coffman and Pedersoli 1971;Funk 1973;Schatzmann 1974Schatzmann , 1981Muir, Skarda, Sheehan and Gates 1979).…”

Fifty years of the British Equine Veterinary Association as a facilitator of progress in equine clinical science

“…In the 1970s a popular innovation in equine anaesthesia was the introduction of glyceryl guaiacolate, a centrally acting muscle relaxant. The general properties of the drug were reviewed by Funk (1970) who subsequently reported its more clinical effects and indications for the horse (Funk 1973). The following year, Schatzman (1974) presented his findings for general anaesthesia in the horse in combination with glyceryl guaiacolate.…”

Short Term Immobilization in the Horse with Ketamine HCl and Promazine HCl Combinations

“…THERE is much controversymong equine clinicians over which is the safest short term immobilizing agent. Some prefer the use of glyceryl guaiacolate as a muscle relaxant for the short term restraint of horses (Roberts, 1968;Funk, 1970Funk, , 1973Schatzman, 1974). Glyceryl guaiacolate however must be given intravenously at doses of 100 mg/kg of a 5 per cent solution, therefore it is nearly always necessary to administer large quantities more than 500 ml of glyceryl guaiacolate solution per animal.…”

“…Some prefer the use of glyceryl guaiacolate as a muscle relaxant for the short term restraint of horses (Roberts, 1968;Funk, 1970Funk, , 1973Schatzman, 1974). Some prefer the use of glyceryl guaiacolate as a muscle relaxant for the short term restraint of horses (Roberts, 1968;Funk, 1970Funk, , 1973Schatzman, 1974).…”