
Anesthesia Facts
Anesthesia can be scary for a pet owner. We are committed to making your procedure with us as stress- free as possible for you and your pet.
Anesthesia is necessary to control your pet’s level of consciousness so as to avoid pain and control and limit their movement so that we can successfully complete the procedure your pet needs. Anesthesia is controlled unconsciousness using FDA approved medications.
Most pets tolerate anesthesia well, and when monitored correctly, the risk of death while under anesthesia is near zero percent. Generally any complications from the procedure are related to the nature of the procedure being done and not the actual anesthesia. Anesthesia does have some risks, but we will discuss any questions you may have and take all necessary precautions to ensure that your pet has a safe anesthesia experience.
Before anesthesia
We recommend routine blood tests before anesthesia to ensure your pet does not have any hidden or unknown risk factors that could make anesthesia more difficult. If you have specific questions about your pet’s risk while under anesthesia, please ask us and we will take the time to discuss any concerns you have prior to your pet’s procedure.
On the day of surgery, we often give your pet a pre-anesthetic medication to help reduce their stress as we prepare them for their procedure. We also place an intravenous (IV) catheter so that we can give IV fluids and medications before, during and after the procedure, if needed.
During anesthesia
While under anesthesia, we monitor your pet similar to how a human is monitored. We place an endotracheal tube into your pet’s airway to ensure they can safely breath while unconscious, we monitor their blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, body temperature, electrocardiography (EGC) and their heart rate. We also supply heat support to keep them from getting too cold, or hypothermia, during their surgery. Additionally, we administer IV fluids during their surgery to provide circulation support.
After anesthesia
After the procedure, we will provide your pet one-on-one care while they wake up. We want them to wake up as quietly and smoothly as possible. Our team will continue to monitor their breathing, body temperature and pain level as they wake up from the anesthesia. We remove the endotracheal tube once they can swallow on their own and breathe normally, and we provide padding and blankets for them to ensure they are comfortable. Depending on the situation, we may continue IV fluids and/or medications for several hours after the procedure.
Depending on the procedure and your pet’s individual needs, we may plan to send your pet home on the same day as the surgery, or we may work with you to plan overnight hospitalization and care.
What are the risks of anesthesia?
The risks of anesthesia should always be considered along with the benefits, and the risks and benefits of any alternatives to anesthesia should also be considered.
Complications from anesthesia can range from minor to severe. Mild symptoms could include vomiting, nausea, or coughing from tracheal irritation from the endotracheal tube. More severe, albeit rare, complications could include formation of a blood clot, cardiac arrest during or after surgery, and even more rarely, death. These complications are rare and we do everything we can to avoid them, but sometimes the individual pet’s body reacts in an unpredictable way. If we notice anything during the procedure that causes us concern, we adapt our protocol and respond accordingly to try to resolve any symptoms we are noticing. In the event that we can wake your pet up, we may do that and plan to reschedule the procedure when we can better understand what may be causing the adverse anesthetic event.
Some pets are considered “high risk” for anesthesia. This may include very advanced age, severe heart conditions, or severely abnormal blood tests and organ function. Any or all of these can increase your pet’s risk of life-threatening complications while under anesthesia. If we believe that your pet is at “high risk” for complications, we will discuss with you all of your options to help you make the best decision for you and your pet.
How can you reduce your pet’s risk?
- Let us know if your pet has ever had a reaction to sedation or anesthesia
- Make sure to list all medications and supplements (including over-the-counter products) that your pet is receiving
- Keep your pet healthy with regular preventive care
- Keep your pet at a healthy weight
- Follow our pre-anesthesia instructions, especially with regards to withholding food and/or water the night before
- Follow our instructions regarding any medications that you give in the peri-surgical (before and after surgery) time frame.
More questions?
We are happy to discuss in detail any aspects of your pet’s treatment plan and procedure. We would rather you ask questions BEFORE the procedure and feel very confident than have you feel apprehensive and concerned. We are here to ease your mind and get them back to enjoying life at home WITH you.