General Anesthesia Procedure

A general anesthetic results in a loss of consciousness in your pet and a loss of sensation throughout the body. It is used for surgical, dental and some radiographic procedures.

A sedative is given first by injection. At this time drugs to control pain are also administered. This is called ‘Pre-emptive Pain Control’. When the pet is calm and comfortable an intravenous catheter is placed and an intravenous injection of an anesthetic drug given. The injection renders the animal unconscious so a breathing tube can be placed down the trachea. Through this breathing tube, a gas anesthetic is delivered in combination with oxygen to maintain the pet’s state of unconsciousness. When the anesthetic gas is turned off the animal breathes out the gas and wakes up.

Throughout this process your pet is carefully monitored. See our separate page for a more detailed description of our anesthetic safety and monitoring procedures.