Which animal is known to require special consideration due to obligate nasal breathing during anesthesia?

Horses are recognized as obligate nasal breathers, which means they can only breathe through their nostrils and not through their mouths. This characteristic is critical to consider during anesthesia since any obstruction to their nasal passage can lead to severe respiratory distress. When administering anesthesia to horses, additional care must be taken to ensure their airways remain clear and unobstructed. This necessitates careful monitoring of their breathing throughout the procedure, as well as employing specific techniques to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

In contrast, other animals mentioned, such as cattle, pigs, and gerbils, are not obligate nasal breathers and can breathe through their mouths, giving them more flexibility in respiratory management during anesthesia. Therefore, the unique anatomical and physiological requirements of horses make them distinctive in the context of anesthetic procedures.