For some procedures, your pet will need to be administered general anaesthesia so that he or she will be unconscious and not feel pain. Many pet owners worry about their pets being administered general anaesthesia. We can assure you that modern anaesthesia is generally quite safe. We follow specific anaesthetic protocols, including monitoring vital signs during the procedure, to ensure the safety of our patients.

We begin most general anaesthetic procedures by administering a sedative to help the pet relax and decrease any anxiety and pain. We then administer an intravenous drug to provide complete anaesthesia and place a breathing tube into the patient’s trachea (windpipe). To maintain the state of unconsciousness, we deliver a gas anaesthetic in combination with oxygen through the breathing tube.

We have installed patient monitoring equipment to measure heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. All patients are kept warm throughout and after any anaesthetic. We have trained veterinary nurses monitoring all anaesthetics as standard.

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.