General Anesthesia

General anesthesia helps control the level of consciousness, pain and movement in our pets. It is used during various types of surgery and can be used for diagnostics that could be invasive or painful when awake. A tube is placed into the trachea (windpipe) which delivers the anesthetic gas and provides oxygen to the lungs.

Your veterinary team will work to ensure that your pet is safe during anesthesia.

Veterinarians will perform a physical exam and discuss running blood work before your pet undergoes anesthesia. The liver and kidneys are responsible for processing and eliminating anesthetic drugs. As discussed in our bloodwork article, chemistry panels are used to check organ function. Based on the results, the veterinarian may choose a different drug, adjust dosages, provide IV fluids or medications before and during the procedure.

A veterinary technician will be in charge of monitoring the level of anesthesia for your pet during a procedure. This involves monitoring the heart rate/rhythm, breathing, blood pressure, temperature, and pulse oximetry - measuring how well the blood is pumping oxygen in the body. Veterinary technicians will be with your pet for every step of general anesthesia - from induction to the procedure and recovery.