ANAESTHESIA

A general anaesthetic results in a loss of consciousness in the animal and a loss of sensation throughout the body. A general anesthetic procedure involves several steps:

• Beginning with a full examination of the pet’s health.
• Next a sedative is administered which calms the pet.
• An intravenous catheter is put into the vein in the leg. This is one of the improved standards we, John and Margaret, introduced.

Intravenous fluids are administered during anaesthesia. Some drugs used for general anaesthesia tend to cause a decrease in blood pressure. Intravenous fluids combat this decrease. In addition, if there are any unforeseen adverse reactions under anaesthesia, an intravenous catheter allows immediate intravenous administration of potentially life saving medications.

• An injection of an anesthetic is given and renders the animal unconscious.
• The endotracheal tube (breathing tube) is placed into the pet’s trachea to allow us to maintain the anaesthetic via gas inhalation.
• The pet is connected to monitoring equipment.
  
  

Pre-Anesthetic Blood Work
It is important to know that for any anesthetic procedure, pre-anesthetic blood work is usually run on pets. Blood testing is performed to check the kidneys, the liver, blood sugar and protein levels, and the red and white blood cell information is determined.

All of the blood work parameters allow us to minimise the risks to your pet that can be associated with anaesthesia. More extensive blood testing is often performed in our more senior pets for diagnostic reasons.

top