AAEP Survey on the Use of Sedatives, Analgesics, and Anesthetics in the Horse

1. Introduction
A web-based proprietary survey management system^a was used to collect information about the sedatives, analgesics, and anesthetics used by the members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). Electronic messages with embedded links to the survey were sent to all members of AAEP with an electronic mail address on file with the association (n = 7341) and were successfully delivered to 6911 addresses. The response window was open for 60 days, and respondents could complete the survey one time. There were 952 responses (13.7%). Greater than 90% of respondents prescribed phenylbutazone and flunixen at least weekly, whereas ≥48% did not prescribe or rarely prescribed other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Lidocaine and mepivacaine were used with similar frequencies (~70% of respondents), whereas other local anesthetics were rarely used. Virtually all respondents sedate horses at least weekly, and most use alpha-2 agonists in combination with other drugs. Two-thirds of respondents use acepromazine in stallions and geldings, and 25% of respondents rarely or do not use a twitch. Horses are anesthetized for short periods (≤20 min) at least weekly by 50% of respondents, but >50% rarely or never anesthetize horses for longer periods. Xylazine, alone or in combination, is the most popular sedative used before short-term anesthesia followed by induction with ketamine, alone or in combination. Approximately 50% of respondents use an assistant on 75% of those occasions when they perform short-term anesthesia. [...]