For some procedures, your pet will need to be administered general anaesthesia so that he or she will be unconscious and not feel pain. There is a degree of risk associated with any general anaesthesia, and many pet owners understandably have concerns. While no anaesthetic procedure is completely without risk, we take extensive precautions to minimize potential complications.
To help reduce risk, we perform a thorough physical examination and run pre-anaesthetic blood work to identify any underlying health issues prior to the procedure. We also follow a specific anaesthetic protocol tailored to each patient and closely monitor vital signs throughout the procedure to ensure your pet’s safety.
Most general anaesthetic procedures begin with the administration of a sedative to help your pet relax and reduce anxiety and pain. We then administer an intravenous drug to induce complete anaesthesia and place a breathing tube into the patient’s trachea (windpipe). Anaesthesia is maintained using a gas anaesthetic in combination with oxygen delivered through the breathing tube.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your pet receiving general anaesthesia or about the procedure for which your pet is scheduled.