Ruminant field anesthesia.

Ruminants can be safely anesthetized in a field setting. The higher level of analgesia provided by anesthesia eliminates the need for local anesthetic blockade, which can prove useful when a procedure is expected to produce a substantial level of pain or local anesthetic blockade is not feasible. Certain aspects of anesthesia place the patient at greater risk than chemical restraint techniques. Knowledge and vigilance reduce the additional risks associated with anesthesia.