Our hospital offers a variety of anesthesia services for your
pet. The term anesthesia indicates the use of medication to
block sensation, typically resulting in unconsciousness.
Anesthesia is induced using a variety of medications, both
injectable and inhaled. It is used for procedures that require
an unconscious animal, such as surgery, certain imaging studies
(e.g., x-rays, MRI, CT scans) or medical procedures (e.g.,
endoscopy). Pets undergoing anesthesia are typically pre-
medicated with an injectable drug. This pre-medication helps the
pet relax so that full anesthesia can be induced more smoothly
and safely. Next, the pet receives intravenous medication to
cause loss of consciousness. A tube is then placed into the
pet's upper airway, and gas anesthesia keeps the pet comfortably
anesthetized during the course of the procedure. While a patient
is under anesthesia, he or she will be monitored in much the
same way as a human undergoing anesthesia would be. This
monitoring includes listening to your pet's he