When your loved one is having a procedure requiring anesthesia it is likely that you will be apprehensive. While anesthesia has its inherent risks, they are generally less of a risk than the actual procedure itself. Our staff uses human grade anesthesia and many of the same procedures you would experience if you were being anesthetized.
First let's explore the types of anesthesia that may be required depending on the procedure:
1. Local Anesthesia - when a small part of the body is numbed. 2. Regional Anesthesia - when a large area of the body is numbed. 3. General Anesthesia - when your pet is asleep.
How do we decrease the risks involved with anesthesia?
Our staff uses human grade anesthesia at Imperial Beach Pet Hospital called Sevoflurane. While it is more expensive and required new equipment, Sevoflurane is commonly used in human medicine. We use it because your pet wakes up from their sleep easier than before. Additionally, the veterinarian will weigh the risks of the procedure against the benefits that your loved one would receive from the procedure. A full physical examination with blood tests that evaluate internal organ function will be performed. The veterinarian will consult you about the risks versus the benefits. It may be that the procedure is delayed until your pet is in better health. This could be losing weight, taking medicines to combat a condition or other factors. When preparing your pet for the procedure, we will place an IV catheter to enable the administration of drugs and reduce the risk of low blood pressure. Our staff monitors heart rate, blood oxygen concentration and blood pressure during the procedure and closely monitors your pet as they wake from their procedure. Our staff, by taking all these steps, make anesthesia as safe as we possibly can.
How can you decrease the risks involved with anesthesia?
1. Maintain a healthy weight for your pet. 2. Follow the veterinarian's advice about feeding and drinking fluids before the surgery. 3. Let the veterinarian know about any reaction your pet may have had in regards to sedation or anesthesia. 4. Let the veterinarian know about and follow the veterinarian's advice about continuing or stopping any medicines or supplements your pet takes.
Overall, you should feel assured that anesthesia is generally a very safe part of any procedure.