Anesthesia – everything pet owners need to know

22 February 2024 — by Katrin Rahn  

What is anasthesia?

Anesthesia is a medical procedure in which animals (or humans) are placed in a state of deep unconsciousness. In this state, they feel no pain and have no memory of the procedure. This makes it possible to perform surgical procedures and diagnostics without causing the animal pain or stress.

Anesthesia – everything pet owners need to know

What do I need to know prior to anesthesia?

  • Fasting: The animal should not be fed for 12 hours prior to anesthesia. This is to reduce the risk of vomiting and aspiration, which occurs when vomit enters the respiratory tract during anesthesia. Drinking water is allowed.
  • Pre-examination: It is important to have the animal thoroughly examined prior to anesthesia to ensure that it is fit for the procedure – especially in older or chronically ill animals. This pre-examination may include blood tests, radiographs, or other diagnostic procedures.
  • Long-term medication: Please report any long-term medications and dietary supplements at the time of the preliminary examination.
  • There are medications that may need to be modified or discontinued prior to anesthesia.
  • Communication: If you have questions about the surgery or procedures, the pre-examination appointment is the right time to ask for information and clarification.

What is the protocol for anesthesia?

There are different anesthesia protocols depending on the type of animal and the upcoming surgery. Your veterinarian will decide which form of anesthesia will be used for your pet. The anesthetic is administered either intravenously or by inhalation. This puts the animal into an unconscious and painless state. Throughout the anesthesia, the veterinary team will monitor the animal's vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation).

What do I need to watch out for after anesthesia?

  • Recovery time: After waking up from anesthesia, the animal may be disoriented and sleepy. This is normal. Make sure it has a quiet and warm place to rest.
  • On the day of surgery, it is important to keep dogs on a leash when going out for a walk. Due to anesthesia, reactions to loud noises may be unpredictable. The dog may get frightened and simply run away.
  • With cats, it is important to safeguard all high places where the cat can lie down. If the cat likes to lie on the cabinet or the scratching post, but has to jump to do so, this could be risky. The cat may know how to get up there, but due to the after effects of anesthesia it may not have proper control of its body and fall down.
  • Do not offer food until the animal can walk straight and is no longer "drowsy". The risk of choking is otherwise too great. It is better to begin with several small food portions rather than one large portion.
  • Coughing: If the animal was intubated, irritation of the throat may occur due to the tube. Coughing or clearing the throat two to three days after surgery is not uncommon. A soothing cough syrup may help.
  • Exercise: Depending on the procedure, the animal may need a few days of rest. For dogs, this means no long walks or wild play in the park. In the case of outdoor cats, the first few days after surgery should be spent indoors. Your vet will determine how long the rest period should be.
  • Protective collar: Please leave the protective collar on for 24 hours. For some surgeries, protective collars are unfortunately essential to protect the wound suture. Licking or scratching can lead to infections and complications. Animals are quick; even a brief moment without a protective collar because you are "there to watch” is enough time for a pet to rip open the wound suture.
  • Medications: Always give medications exactly as directed to prevent complications. Please adhere to the follow-up appointments. If you feel that something is wrong, if your pet isn’t eating, moving or is apathetic, please contact us immediately.

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