19 Ryde Road, Pymble, NSW 2073
Anaesthesia – What You Need To Know
By Scott Lackenby | Dated May 8, 2014
What can I do to prepare my pet for a safe anaesthetic?
Pets commonly require an anaesthetic for procedures such as surgery, dentistry and X-rays. Gordon Vet Hospital uses human grade anaesthetic protocols. Combined with our highly experienced staff, your pet will receive the best of care.
Facts you need to know- Do not give any food from 10pm the night before
- Water can be given overnight but must be taken away the morning of surgery
- Encourage your pet to go to the toilet in the morning
- Drop your pet to Gordon Vet Hospital between (7:15-9:30am)
What happens before and during an anaesthetic?
Examination: Your pet will receive a comprehensive physical examination on admission. This is essential for any animal undergoing an anaesthetic procedure.Blood Testing: Any anaesthetic includes some risk and one of the ways we can minimise this risk is with a pre anaesthetic blood test. This test is essential for all sick, debilitated or ageing pets and is highly recommended for pets of any age. It provides us with a full health picture of your pet and is used as a baseline for further tests later in their life. We have a laboratory in-house that provides blood results within 10 minutes. If there any abnormalities we will contact you and take all steps to ensure that your pet’s safety is maximised.
Fluid Therapy: An intravenous catheter is placed in the foreleg. Intravenous fluids during the anaesthetic maintain blood pressure and hydration. This assists in providing a smooth anaesthetic recovery for your pet which means they go home more awake.
Sedation and Pain Management: All pets undergoing a surgical procedure are given pain relief which is tailored to their needs. Prior to the anaesthetic your pet will be given a sedative and pain relief injection which relaxes them. We aim for pain free procedures.Monitoring: At Gordon Vet Hospital, a trained anaesthetic nurse closely monitors your pet using sophisticated, human grade anaesthetic equipment. This is used on every patient.
What happens after an anaesthetic?
Your pet’s anaesthetist will monitor him/her during their anaesthetic recovery. The vet will decide whether your pet can go home the same day, or should stay overnight. For major procedures, it is often better for your pet to stay in hospital so that we can administer ongoing pain relief, fluid therapy and medication. We will call you immediately after the surgery to update you and organise a pick up time.
Please call us anytime on 9498 3000 if you have any questions.
Written by Scott Lackenby
Scott joined the team at Gordon Vets in 1999, where he was immediately impressed with the high standard of customer service. Scott is very popular amongst clients for his kind hearted approach to pet care and his great sense of humour. His particular areas of interest are endocrinology and dermatology.
