Phillip Lerche, BVSc, PhD, CertVA, DipACVAA, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, USA.

Turi Aarnes, DVM, MS, DipACVAA, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, USA.

Gwen Covey-Crump, BVetMed, CertVA, DipECVAA, MRCVS, is a Clinical Teacher at Langford Veterinary Services, University of Bristol, UK. She is European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.

Fernando Martinez Taboada, LV, CertVA, DipECVAA, MRCVS, is European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. He currently works at the University of Sydney, Australia, as Specialist in Small Animal Anaesthesia.

1 Introduction, 1

Reasons to provide regional anesthesia, 2

History of regional anesthesia/analgesia, 3

Principles of the major techniques, 3

Local anesthetic drugs, 4

Additives to local anesthetics, 6

Equipment, 7

Syringes, 7

Needles, 7

Epidural catheter kits, 8

Nerve locators, 8

Differential pressure transducer, 9

Acoustic device, 9

Complications and contraindications, 9

Local, 10

Systemic, 10

Species differences and considerations, 10

Safe practice, 11

Gaining confidence, 11

Making a plan, 11

References, 11

Further reading, 12

2 Cutaneous Innervation Index, 13

Cutaneous innervation index, 14

Canine dermatomes

Body, 14

Head, 15

Thoracic limb, 16

Pelvic limb, 18

3 Infiltration Blocks, 21

Infiltration for mass removal, 22

Line and ring blocks, 22

Inverted "L" block, 24

Block of the surgical incision, 26

Single injection of the surgical incision , 26

Diffusion catheter/"soaker" catheter/"pain buster", 28

Intercostal blocks, 30

Interpleural block (also known as intrapleural or pleural), 32

Intraperitoneal block, 34

References, 35

4 Blocks of the Head, 37

Retrobulbar, 38

Maxillary, 40

Infraorbital, 42

Mandibular (or inferior alveolar), 44

Mental (or middle mental), 46

Auriculotemporal and great auricular, 48

References, 52

5 Regional Anesthetic Blocks of the Limbs, 53

Thoracic limb regional anesthetic blocks, 54

Brachial plexus, 56

Paravertebral: C6-T1, 58

RUMM (radial/ulnar/median/musculocutaneous), 60

Bier block (intravenous regional anesthesia), 62

Pelvic limb, 64

Femoral/saphenous nerve block, 66

Sciatic nerve block, 70

References, 74

6 Epidurals and Spinals, 75

Lumbosacral epidural and spinal in dogs, 76

Lumbosacral epidural in cats, 78

Caudal epidural in dogs and cats, 80

References, 82

7 Emergency Procedures, 83

Complications associated with local anesthetic techniques, 84

Bleeding, 84

Nerve trauma, 84

Complications associated with local anesthetic drugs, 84

Allergic reactions to local anesthetic drugs, 84

Methemoglobinemia, 85

Systemic toxicity of local anesthetics, 85

Cardiovascular toxicity, 85

References, 88

Further reading, 88

Index, 89