27 Jul Pet Anesthesia and Pain Management
Ensuring the well-being and comfort of your pet is of utmost importance to us, and anesthesia and pain management are key aspects of our dedicated care. We understand that safety is a primary concern for our clients when their pets undergo anesthesia, and we take great pride in delivering optimal anesthetic care tailored to each individual pet.
Before administering anesthesia, we conduct a thorough physical examination and review the pet’s previous records. Additionally, we strongly recommend comprehensive preanesthetic testing, which may involve blood work, urinalysis, radiographs, and/or ultrasound. This meticulous evaluation helps us assess your pet’s health status and contributes to our commitment to providing safe anesthesia for your beloved companion. If needed, we address pain levels beforehand to ensure your pet’s comfort during the procedure.
On the day of the procedure, we place IV catheters in all pets undergoing anesthesia. This is essential as it allows us to administer fluids to maintain stable blood pressure and provides continuous access to the vein for necessary medications. For many procedures, we employ intraoral regional nerve blocks similar to novocaine shots used in human dentistry. These nerve blocks effectively reduce pain during the procedure, minimizing the amount of gas anesthesia required.
Each anesthesia protocol is customized based on the individual patient’s medical history and current health condition. We primarily use medications that are rapidly metabolized, ensuring they are short-acting and promoting a swift recovery. Throughout the anesthesia process, we maintain a close watch on our patients using state-of-the-art anesthesia monitoring and delivery equipment. Our monitoring includes parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, EKG patterns, oxygenation, carbon dioxide levels, respiration rate, and temperature. These values are consistently recorded and analyzed, allowing us to make real-time adjustments to anesthesia levels and medications, all tailored to your pet’s specific needs. Our team is equipped with world-renowned board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists, who are available for consultation or to handle complex cases in house or remotely.
After the procedure, your pet continues to receive close monitoring during the recovery period. Pets that received nerve blocks during the procedure will experience a numb surgery site, which promotes a smoother recovery. Most pets are able to leave the hospital on the same day as the procedure, often with wagging tails. We also provide adequate pain control for your pet to ensure their comfort during the recovery process. In the rare event it is needed, we offer 24-hour hospitalization at the main building of VRCC for post-operative recovery and pain management.
Our personalized approach to anesthesia and pain control is designed to provide a safe and efficient anesthetic experience, facilitating a speedy recovery for your cherished companion.