Veterinary Medicine Essentials: Anesthesia

Anesthesia can be a scary prospect for human patients in hospitals and pet owners in the veterinary clinic. The apprehension that a beloved pet will never wake up puts the client, veterinarian, the dedicated veterinary anesthesia technician and the rest of the surgical team in the middle of a worrisome proposition. But you've got this covered, especially with the comprehensive look at all angles of veterinary anesthesia in today's hospital. This page not enough? You can get the latest on anesthesia (and our entire library on the subject) with a click right here.

Best anesthesia practices and techniques

Top strategies for high-risk anesthesia patients

Jul 12, 2016

"The breathing patient is a happy patient." ...

Just Ask the Expert: Light anesthesia anxiety

Jun 23, 2016

There are lessons for all veterinary practices in deciphering the cause of inadequate anesthetic depth in routine procedures. Here is a step-wise guide on what to consider as you perform your root-cause analysis. ...

3 wonderful trends in veterinary anesthesia

May 26, 2016

An anesthesiologist shares his excitement about trends in anesthesia, sedation and calming medications for cats and dogs. ...

Anesthesia reboot: Erase these myths and misconceptions

Aug 24, 2014

Veterinary anesthesiologist Dr. Ann Weil provides five important pointers on anesthetizing cats and dogs. ...

Local and regional anesthesia techniques, Part 1: Overview and five simple techniques

Jan 01, 2009

Add these 5 techniques to your clinical toolbox to help lessen your patients' pain. ...

Local and regional anesthesia techniques, Part 2: Stifle, intercostal, intrapleural, and forelimb techniques

Mar 01, 2009

These anesthetic methods, including one recently recommended alternative block, will help you control pain in animals undergoing stifle surgeries, forelimb surgeries, limb amputations, or thoracotomies, as well as in patients with thoracic trauma or cranial abdominal pain. ...

Local and regional anesthesia techniques, Part 3: Blocking the maxillary and mandibular nerves

Jun 01, 2009

This article discusses techniques associated with oral surgery. ...

Local and regional anesthesia techniques, Part 4: Epidural anesthesia and analgesia

Oct 01, 2009

Preoperative epidural injection of local anesthetics and opioids provides excellent preemptive, multimodal intraoperative analgesia; reduces the concentration of volatile anesthetic required to maintain surgical anesthesia; and provides analgesia extending into the recovery period. ...

Avoiding anesthetic complications and adverse effects

Journal Scan: Give vomit the ol' heave-ho in cats receiving anesthetics and pain medications

A recent study on the effects of maropitant in cats suggests it could help prevent vomiting when taken before dexmedetomidine and morphine, with one major caveat. ...

4 ways to avoid anesthesia complications

You can reduce your patients' potential for problems by staying clear of these common pitfalls. ...

4 anesthesia mistakes you might not know you're making

Anesthesia is a vital inclusion in any clinic's medical practice, but it does come with risks. By avoiding these common mistakes, your patients will receive a safer anesthetic experience. ...

Anesthesia-related hypotension in a small-animal practice

Hypotension, usually defined as mean arterial blood pressure less than 60 mm Hg or systolic arterial blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg, is reportedly one of the most common complications associated with general anesthesia in dogs and cats. ...

Anesthesia monitoring and postoperative recovery

Lecture Link: Postanesthesia monitoring pointers for small animals

Life-saving measures indeed since more than 50% of the complications with anesthesia occur while the patient is recovering. ...

Just Ask the Expert: Anesthesia monitoring and postoperative recovery checklist

Dr. Jenifer Newton shares her checklist-download it here. ...

Arterial blood gas analysis and interpretation in anesthetized patients

An introduction to the principles of clinical blood gas analysis and interpretation--including two case examples. ...

Anesthesia: Keeping close watch on blood pressure, ventilation vital during surgery

In 1915, Sir Frederick Hobday, a British veterinary surgeon, noted that "it is of no avail to have done any operation, however clever, if the patient succumbs to the anesthetic." ...

Anesthesia in dental procedures

Do you really need your best anesthesia equipment for dental patients?

You're about to anesthetize a 12-year-old Yorkie with blood pressure issues. 'Nuff said. ...

Questions from the dental trenches: Anesthesia and extractions

Get answers to your most commonly asked questions about two essential components of dental care in veterinary patients. ...

Skills Laboratory: How to perform four oral regional nerve blocks in dogs and cats

Try these quick and easy pain management techniques for oral surgery. ...

Caring for your anesthetic unit and veterinary dental monitoring equipment

Tips and tricks to ensure you don't ruin this essential, expensive equipment. ...

Monitoring anesthetized dental patients: the five-parameter approach

Clients frequently express concern about the anesthesia their dogs or cats need for professional oral evaluation and care. ...

Easing client fears of anesthesia

Get your veterinary dental clients to testify!

Clients afraid of the anesthesia necessary for dental care in their senior pets? Listen to this. ...

Knock out pet owners' anesthetic worries

Learn to talk to pet owners about the benefits and risks of anesthesia. ...

Attack veterinary clients' anesthesia fears

When clients hesitate to have their pet put under, be primed to pounce on their misconceptions, bat down myths about anesthesia, and strike back with facts and recommendations customized to their pet's condition. ...

Ease your veterinary clients' anesthesia fears

My clients are afraid of anesthesia. How can I explain the risks and importance? ...

5 common myths about veterinary anesthesia risks

Help clients understand exactly what's involved before their pet undergoes a surgical or dental procedure. ...

Arming your team

Anesthesia: The dead space hack

In tiny patients you might be concerned about extra dead space. Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, shares her favorite anesthesia tip she learned from Andrea M. Caniglia, VMD, DACVAA. ...

4 tough anesthesia and pain talks

Use this quick guide to answer common pet owner questions about their pets' pain management. ...

Important anesthesia monitoring tip for veterinary technicians

Technicians should be present in the moment and utilize all of their senses when monitoring a patient under anesthesia. ...

Anesthetic monitoring savvy

Understanding and interpreting data from a multi-parameter monitor is paramount to a successful anesthetic experience in veterinary practice. Consider this advice to understand these vital values and explore what to do when you encounter abnormalities. ...

Successful anesthesia takes the whole team

All veterinary team members play a role in providing patients safe anethetic experiences. ...