General Anaesthetic & Sedation

A general anaesthetic is performed for a variety of reasons; for operations, x-rays, endoscopic examination and dental treatment. During an anaesthetic your pet is asleep (unconscious), pain free and totally unaware of their surroundings. You will be asked to sign a form giving your consent to an anaesthetic. This will be fully discussed with you at the time so that we obtain your informed consent. Your pet is then weighed and admitted to the clinic. If a pre-anaesthetic blood sample is required this will then be taken and run. In most circumstances your pet will be given a pre-medication injection, which is a mild sedative. This reduces anxiety, reduces the dose of anaesthetic needed and eases recovery. A pain-killing injection is also given at this time to block the pain pathways and dramatically reduce post-operative discomfort.

An accurate dose of anaesthetic is calculated dependent on your pets weight, age, health and breed. The products used are of the highest quality and are human equivalents, which are safer for both your pet and our team, (Rapinovet and Isoflurane). Anaesthetics can only be administered by qualified veterinary surgeons. Your pet's front leg will have a small patch of fur clipped and the induction agent is injected into the leg vein. In a few seconds your pet is asleep. A breathing tube is placed into their windpipe and connected to the anaesthetic machine, which provides oxygen and anaesthetic gases to maintain unconsciousness. Your pet is then connected to a respiratory and cardiac monitor to monitor their breathing and heart rates and rhythms. A stethoscope tube is also placed in their throat to monitor the heart sounds directly.

Anaesthetic monitoring is performed by the qualified and fully trained nursing team and is a highly-skilled task involving the monitoring of reflexes, temperature, heart and breathing rates and rhythms, gum colour to indicate circulation changes and pulse rate. The amount of gaseous anaesthetic given is adjusted according to any changes in the above. At the end of the procedure, the anaesthetic gases are switched off and your pet gently regains consciousness. Once swallowing reflexes return the tubes and monitors are removed. Your pet is then carried to their pen. It is crucial to monitor recovery closely particularly your pet's temperature, circulation and airways. Various methods are used to maintain body temperature during and after an anaesthetic, they include: the room temperature, electric pads, special bedding, space blankets, bubble wrap and microwaveable pads.

Sedation

Sedation is given for a variety of reasons including close skin and ear examination to claw clipping and stitch removal in fractious pets. During sedation your pet is not fully unconscious and is aware of their surroundings to a small extent. You will be asked to sign a form giving your consent to sedation. This will be fully discussed with you at the time so that we obtain your informed consent. Your pet is then weighed and admitted to the clinic. If a pre-anaesthetic blood sample is required this will then be taken and run. A sedative reduces anxiety and has mild pain relieving properties. As some procedures can be uncomfortable further pain relief is given by injection to block the pain pathways and dramatically reduce post-procedure discomfort. An accurate dose of sedative is calculated dependent on your pets weight, age, health and breed. Sedation monitoring is performed by the qualified and fully trained nursing team and is a highly-skilled task involving the monitoring of reflexes, temperature, heart and breathing rates and rhythms, gum colour to indicate circulation changes and pulse rate. At the end of the procedure, the sedation can often be reversed and your pet gently regains consciousness. Your pet is then carried to their pen. It is crucial to monitor recovery closely particularly your pet's temperature, circulation and airways. Various methods are used to maintain body temperature during and after an anaesthetic, they include: the room temperature, electric pads, special bedding, space blankets, bubble wrap and microwaveable pads.