For some procedures, your pet will need general (inhaled) anesthesia, while some may only require short acting, or even local anesthesia. Many pet owners worry about anesthesia, however, we tailor each anesthetic protocol to the individual patient, and regularly monitor vital signs during the procedure, to ensure safety. Each surgical patient receives a complete physical examination the day of surgery, and in most cases we run blood work ahead of time to catch any underlying health issues that could cause problems.
In addition, we sometimes use a local anesthetic to help control pain. Local anesthetics cause a loss of sensation in the area where the procedure is being performed, similar to having a nerve-block at the dentist. Even if your pet is unconscious, pain receptors are not. Local anesthetics allow us blunt the pain response and as a result use lower doses of general or injectable anesthesia, leading to a quicker and less stressful recovery for the patient.
Finally, some minor procedures may only require a sedative and/or anxiolytic (anti-anxiety medication) in combination with the local anesthetic to keep pets calm, and avoid general anesthesia altogether.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your pet receiving general anesthesia or about the procedure for which your pet is scheduled.
