VETERINARY SERVICES
Anesthesia
Anesthesia is a temporary loss of consciousness, where your pet’s level of consciousness is controlled, so they don’t feel pain and don’t move.
GENERAL ANESTHESIA
Appropriately administered general anesthesia entails extremely low risk for the patient, as a result of a combination of pre-anesthetic assessment of the patient (including physical exams, blood tests, and any additional medical diagnostics- ultrasounds, radiographs) and our belief in a multimodal strategy (using several classes of analgesic agents which minimize the depth of general anesthesia required), plus modern anesthetic monitoring equipment. Many patients are awake and standing within 15-20 minutes of completion of the procedure and may go home the same day. Our team is fully trained to confidently assess and monitor your pet’s well being and pain during these procedures.
There are some situations where your pet will need general anesthesia or sedation while under our care (dental services, surgical procedures, some anxious or fearful patients for exams or to perform medical diagnostics). Before administering any medications, your pet’s medical record will be extensively reviewed (bloodwork, radiographs, and general health history), and they will receive an exam by each surgical team member. During this part of your pet’s exam, their vital signs are taken, along with listening to their heart and respiratory system. After your pet’s pre-anesthetic exam, the veterinarian and lead surgical technician will formulate an appropriate medication protocol (pre and post-anesthetic medications and any pain management).
While your pet is under anesthesia, they will be monitored closely by your veterinarian and your pet’s anesthesia technician with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment. The entire surgical team will closely monitor your pet’s vital signs and pain level; this will allow the team to make adjustments to your pet’s anesthesia as your pet’s needs change. After your pet’s procedure, they will be moved to a recovery suite, where they will be monitored one on one with a recovery nurse until they are fully awake, breathing on their own, and swallowing.
