Anesthesia Practice UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the basic formula for calculating drug doses? - CORRECT ANSWER - Weight x
Rate/Concentration
What type of anesthesia is a topical cream? - CORRECT ANSWER - Local anesthesia
What type of anesthesia is surgical anesthesia? - CORRECT ANSWER - General
anesthesia
True or False: When measuring what length endotracheal tube should be used, you measure from
the tip of the nose to the base of the shoulder. - CORRECT ANSWER - False, measure
from the tip of nose to the point of the shoulder
True or False: For cats, we use 2% lidocaine to numb the epiglottis so laryngospasms do not
occur. - CORRECT ANSWER - False, it is used to numb the larynx
How far past the rostral end of the muzzle should an endotracheal tube go? - CORRECT
ANSWER - No more that 1/2
What systems is the excretion of drugs controlled by in order of most to least important? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Kidneys, GI system, respiratory system, skin
True or False: The peak BMR in an animal's life occurs at 6 to 12 months of age. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
What percent higher is a male's BMR compared to a female? - CORRECT ANSWER - 7%
,Why do anesthetics decrease BMR? - CORRECT ANSWER - Because they mimic the
resting/sleep state where BMR is usually 50% lower
Which if the following increases BMR?
a. neutering
b. fever
c. large body size
d. poor condition - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Fever
True or False: The respiratory stimulant Doxapram/Dopram can be given IV, sublingually and
IM - CORRECT ANSWER - False, it can not be given IM
List 5 reasons why you would use a pre-anesthetic - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. decrease
side effects of general anesthesia
2. decrease amount of general anesthesia used
3. to tranquilize
4. to induce vomiting
5. to prevent seizures
6. pain control
What category of pre-anesthetic drugs act on the parasympathetic nervous system? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Anticholinergics
What is the neurotransmitter for the PNS? - CORRECT ANSWER - Acetylcholine
True or False: Using an anticholinergic in cattle can cause colic - CORRECT ANSWER -
False, it causes bloat in cattle and colic in horses
,What categories of pre-anesthetic drugs provide analgesia? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists, cyclohexamines and opioids
What heart rate range is considered tachycardic in dogs and cats? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Dogs >140-160
Cats >180-200
Why is the use of anticholinergics contraindicated in constipated animals? - CORRECT
ANSWER - because they cause GI stasis (ilyis)
What are the signs of an anticholinergic overdose? - CORRECT ANSWER - excitement,
dry MM, thirst, extreme/extended mydriasis, tachycardia
If you suspect an animal has an anticholinergic overdose, what reversing agent would you use?
a. phenothiazine
b. yobine
c. physostigmine
d. atipamezole/antisedan
e. there is no reversing agent - CORRECT ANSWER - C. Physostigmine
What anticholinergic is best used in rabbits and why? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Glycopyrrolate because rabbits have an enzyme that breaks down atropine
True or False: The effects of atropine last longer than glycopyrrolate - CORRECT
ANSWER - False, glycopyrrolate lasts 2-3 hours which is twice as long as atropine which
lasts 1-1.5 hours
List the other uses for anticholinergic Atropine - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.
organophosphate poisoning Tx
2. antispasmodic
, 3. pupil dilation
True or False: Uptake of a drug occurs faster with an IM injection than an SQ injection -
CORRECT ANSWER - True, PO<SQ<IM<IV
What drug category does Acepromazine maleate fall under? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Phenothiazines
What are the desirable effects of Ace? - CORRECT ANSWER - Sedation
Anti-emetic
Anti-arrhythmic
Antihistamine
No effects on respiration
Does Ace cause hypotension or hypertension? How does it cause one of these? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Hypotension due to peripheral vasodilation
Which drugs are safe to use in animals with a seizure history? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Benzodiazepines
What receptors can epinephrine act upon? - CORRECT ANSWER - Beta or alpha2
adrenergic receptors
How long does analgesia with A2 agonists last? - CORRECT ANSWER - 15-20 mins
Do A2 agonists reduce the amount of general anesthetic needed? If yes, by what percentage? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Yes, by 50-80%
Do A2 agonists depress or excite the cardiovascular and respiratory system? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Decreases both
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the basic formula for calculating drug doses? - CORRECT ANSWER - Weight x
Rate/Concentration
What type of anesthesia is a topical cream? - CORRECT ANSWER - Local anesthesia
What type of anesthesia is surgical anesthesia? - CORRECT ANSWER - General
anesthesia
True or False: When measuring what length endotracheal tube should be used, you measure from
the tip of the nose to the base of the shoulder. - CORRECT ANSWER - False, measure
from the tip of nose to the point of the shoulder
True or False: For cats, we use 2% lidocaine to numb the epiglottis so laryngospasms do not
occur. - CORRECT ANSWER - False, it is used to numb the larynx
How far past the rostral end of the muzzle should an endotracheal tube go? - CORRECT
ANSWER - No more that 1/2
What systems is the excretion of drugs controlled by in order of most to least important? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Kidneys, GI system, respiratory system, skin
True or False: The peak BMR in an animal's life occurs at 6 to 12 months of age. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
What percent higher is a male's BMR compared to a female? - CORRECT ANSWER - 7%
,Why do anesthetics decrease BMR? - CORRECT ANSWER - Because they mimic the
resting/sleep state where BMR is usually 50% lower
Which if the following increases BMR?
a. neutering
b. fever
c. large body size
d. poor condition - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Fever
True or False: The respiratory stimulant Doxapram/Dopram can be given IV, sublingually and
IM - CORRECT ANSWER - False, it can not be given IM
List 5 reasons why you would use a pre-anesthetic - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. decrease
side effects of general anesthesia
2. decrease amount of general anesthesia used
3. to tranquilize
4. to induce vomiting
5. to prevent seizures
6. pain control
What category of pre-anesthetic drugs act on the parasympathetic nervous system? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Anticholinergics
What is the neurotransmitter for the PNS? - CORRECT ANSWER - Acetylcholine
True or False: Using an anticholinergic in cattle can cause colic - CORRECT ANSWER -
False, it causes bloat in cattle and colic in horses
,What categories of pre-anesthetic drugs provide analgesia? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists, cyclohexamines and opioids
What heart rate range is considered tachycardic in dogs and cats? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Dogs >140-160
Cats >180-200
Why is the use of anticholinergics contraindicated in constipated animals? - CORRECT
ANSWER - because they cause GI stasis (ilyis)
What are the signs of an anticholinergic overdose? - CORRECT ANSWER - excitement,
dry MM, thirst, extreme/extended mydriasis, tachycardia
If you suspect an animal has an anticholinergic overdose, what reversing agent would you use?
a. phenothiazine
b. yobine
c. physostigmine
d. atipamezole/antisedan
e. there is no reversing agent - CORRECT ANSWER - C. Physostigmine
What anticholinergic is best used in rabbits and why? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Glycopyrrolate because rabbits have an enzyme that breaks down atropine
True or False: The effects of atropine last longer than glycopyrrolate - CORRECT
ANSWER - False, glycopyrrolate lasts 2-3 hours which is twice as long as atropine which
lasts 1-1.5 hours
List the other uses for anticholinergic Atropine - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.
organophosphate poisoning Tx
2. antispasmodic
, 3. pupil dilation
True or False: Uptake of a drug occurs faster with an IM injection than an SQ injection -
CORRECT ANSWER - True, PO<SQ<IM<IV
What drug category does Acepromazine maleate fall under? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Phenothiazines
What are the desirable effects of Ace? - CORRECT ANSWER - Sedation
Anti-emetic
Anti-arrhythmic
Antihistamine
No effects on respiration
Does Ace cause hypotension or hypertension? How does it cause one of these? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Hypotension due to peripheral vasodilation
Which drugs are safe to use in animals with a seizure history? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Benzodiazepines
What receptors can epinephrine act upon? - CORRECT ANSWER - Beta or alpha2
adrenergic receptors
How long does analgesia with A2 agonists last? - CORRECT ANSWER - 15-20 mins
Do A2 agonists reduce the amount of general anesthetic needed? If yes, by what percentage? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Yes, by 50-80%
Do A2 agonists depress or excite the cardiovascular and respiratory system? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Decreases both
