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Anesthesiology Exam Questions and
Verified Answers Latest 2025 Graded
A
Begin to become familiar with drugs used for induction of anesthesia:
Propofol, alfaxalone, ketamine/midazolam, Telazol. - ANSDogs: propofol,
ketamine/benzodiazepine, alfaxalone
Cats: above total injectable anesthesia
Horses: ketamine/benzodiazepine
Cattle: triple drip: GG, xylazine, ketamine
Sheep/goats: ketamine/benzodiazepine
Blood gas analysis - ANSNormal blood pH = 7.4
<7.4 = acidemia
>7.4 = alkalemia.
Blood gas analysis what does decreased PaCO2 mean? -
ANShyperventilation - respiratory alkalosis
Blood gas analysis what does increased PaCO2 mean? -
ANSHypoventilaion -> respiratory acidosis.
Can you rely on muscle relaxation to indicate anesthetic depth? - ANSJaw
tone in dogs and cats
Varies with depth
1
, 2
Subjective
Not reliable with dissociative anesthetics.
e.g. ketamine causes some muscle rigidity and will give some false sense
of a tight jaw.
Describe alpha-2 agonist, dexmedetomidine - ANSPotent sedative +
analgesia
Dose dependent sedation mild -> profound
Rapid onset (~5min)
Short duration ~30-60 min, depending on dose
Describe anticholinergics and their effects - ANSdecrease vagal effects,
salivary secretions
Modern inhalants not as irritating to resp.
Still used to counter vagal effects of anesthetic drugs.
Atropine: crosses BBB/placenta. Onset of action (minutes): 5 IM, 1IV. DOA:
60-90 min.
Side effects: sinus tachycardia, secondary A-V block.
Glycopyrrolate: does not cross BBB/placenta. Onset of action 3-5min.
DOA: 2-4 hrs
side effects: sinus tach, secondary av block -> increased with IV admin. AV
block - wait, give additional dose. Sinus tachycardia is self limiting. Caution
in geriatric or cardiac dz. Avoid in LA -> GI stasis.
Describe buprenorphine - ANSpartial mu agonist
2
, 3
little sedation, mild-moderate analgesia
Slow onset 30-45 min
Duration: dogs 4-10 hrs, cats 6-12 hrs.
'Ceiling effect'
Compared to mu agonists, LESS: resp. depression, panting, bradycardia,
analgesia, nausea, no vomiting.
Simbadol new long acting fromulation approved for cats
Describe butorphanol - ANSKappa agonist, mu antagonist
Mild sedation, analgesia
Lasts ~1-2 hours
'Ceiling effect'
compared to mu agonists, LESS: respiratory depression, panting,
bradycardia, analgesia (MAC sparing), nausea, no vomiting.
Describe eye position and depth in horses? - ANSMedial position
May be unreliable
Different positions in each eye
IF NYSTAGMUS/TEARING -> TOO LIGHT!!!!
Describe eye position and depth in sheep, goats, and camelids - ANSglobe
DOES NOT ROTATE.
Eye position in sheep, goat, and camelids gives NO information on
anesthetic depth.
Describe hydromorphone, morphine, oxymorphone, methadone - ANSfull
mu agonists
3
, 4
moderate-severe pain
Duration of action
hydro/oxymorphone: 2-4 hours
Morphine/methadone: 4-6 hours
Methadon is also an NMDA antagonist.
Describe oxygen central supply - ANSHigh pressure cylinders
Liquid oxygen - high volume use clinic
either of these form the pipeline oxygen source: runs throughout hospital,
remote hook-ups DISS.
Describe oxygen local supply - ANSE-cylinder on machine
Easier to handle
Small volume (660L)
Describe palpebral reflex in horses to assess anesthetic depth - ANSGently
brush cilia, slow closure of eyelids
Present at surgical plane.
Describe palpebral reflex in ruminants/swine to assess anesthetic depth. -
ANSAbsent at surgical plane
Describe palpebral reflex in small animals to assess anesthetic depth -
ANSTap medial canthus
Absent at surgical plane.
If didn't have reflex and eye centered then very deep plane of anesthesia.
4
Anesthesiology Exam Questions and
Verified Answers Latest 2025 Graded
A
Begin to become familiar with drugs used for induction of anesthesia:
Propofol, alfaxalone, ketamine/midazolam, Telazol. - ANSDogs: propofol,
ketamine/benzodiazepine, alfaxalone
Cats: above total injectable anesthesia
Horses: ketamine/benzodiazepine
Cattle: triple drip: GG, xylazine, ketamine
Sheep/goats: ketamine/benzodiazepine
Blood gas analysis - ANSNormal blood pH = 7.4
<7.4 = acidemia
>7.4 = alkalemia.
Blood gas analysis what does decreased PaCO2 mean? -
ANShyperventilation - respiratory alkalosis
Blood gas analysis what does increased PaCO2 mean? -
ANSHypoventilaion -> respiratory acidosis.
Can you rely on muscle relaxation to indicate anesthetic depth? - ANSJaw
tone in dogs and cats
Varies with depth
1
, 2
Subjective
Not reliable with dissociative anesthetics.
e.g. ketamine causes some muscle rigidity and will give some false sense
of a tight jaw.
Describe alpha-2 agonist, dexmedetomidine - ANSPotent sedative +
analgesia
Dose dependent sedation mild -> profound
Rapid onset (~5min)
Short duration ~30-60 min, depending on dose
Describe anticholinergics and their effects - ANSdecrease vagal effects,
salivary secretions
Modern inhalants not as irritating to resp.
Still used to counter vagal effects of anesthetic drugs.
Atropine: crosses BBB/placenta. Onset of action (minutes): 5 IM, 1IV. DOA:
60-90 min.
Side effects: sinus tachycardia, secondary A-V block.
Glycopyrrolate: does not cross BBB/placenta. Onset of action 3-5min.
DOA: 2-4 hrs
side effects: sinus tach, secondary av block -> increased with IV admin. AV
block - wait, give additional dose. Sinus tachycardia is self limiting. Caution
in geriatric or cardiac dz. Avoid in LA -> GI stasis.
Describe buprenorphine - ANSpartial mu agonist
2
, 3
little sedation, mild-moderate analgesia
Slow onset 30-45 min
Duration: dogs 4-10 hrs, cats 6-12 hrs.
'Ceiling effect'
Compared to mu agonists, LESS: resp. depression, panting, bradycardia,
analgesia, nausea, no vomiting.
Simbadol new long acting fromulation approved for cats
Describe butorphanol - ANSKappa agonist, mu antagonist
Mild sedation, analgesia
Lasts ~1-2 hours
'Ceiling effect'
compared to mu agonists, LESS: respiratory depression, panting,
bradycardia, analgesia (MAC sparing), nausea, no vomiting.
Describe eye position and depth in horses? - ANSMedial position
May be unreliable
Different positions in each eye
IF NYSTAGMUS/TEARING -> TOO LIGHT!!!!
Describe eye position and depth in sheep, goats, and camelids - ANSglobe
DOES NOT ROTATE.
Eye position in sheep, goat, and camelids gives NO information on
anesthetic depth.
Describe hydromorphone, morphine, oxymorphone, methadone - ANSfull
mu agonists
3
, 4
moderate-severe pain
Duration of action
hydro/oxymorphone: 2-4 hours
Morphine/methadone: 4-6 hours
Methadon is also an NMDA antagonist.
Describe oxygen central supply - ANSHigh pressure cylinders
Liquid oxygen - high volume use clinic
either of these form the pipeline oxygen source: runs throughout hospital,
remote hook-ups DISS.
Describe oxygen local supply - ANSE-cylinder on machine
Easier to handle
Small volume (660L)
Describe palpebral reflex in horses to assess anesthetic depth - ANSGently
brush cilia, slow closure of eyelids
Present at surgical plane.
Describe palpebral reflex in ruminants/swine to assess anesthetic depth. -
ANSAbsent at surgical plane
Describe palpebral reflex in small animals to assess anesthetic depth -
ANSTap medial canthus
Absent at surgical plane.
If didn't have reflex and eye centered then very deep plane of anesthesia.
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