Do We REALLY Have to Sedate for This Procedure?

Many pet owners express concern when their pet faces sedation or anesthesia for a medical procedure. The primary reason animals require sedation is the need to remain absolutely still while the procedure is being performed. Movement at the wrong time can cause harm to the patient and prevent successful completion of the procedure.

Physical restraint of patients causes fear and anxiety. Animals don’t understand it is for their own good. What they see is that their owners have handed them over to strangers who are causing them more pain and discomfort! Sedation helps control this anxiety so they can relax and the doctor can perform a more thorough exam. It is also important to understand that when animals are painful, it is a normal, “Survival of the fittest”, behavior to hide what hurts. That natural instinct can make it more difficult to diagnose the true problem. Pain medications are part of almost every sedation protocol. This allows the doctor to do the necessary exam without causing further pain.

When sedation or anesthesia is in order, our veterinarians take every precaution to make sure a procedure is completed as safely as possible. Most drugs are broken down and excreted by the liver and kidneys. Blood work before sedation or anesthesia helps identify any problems with these organs and the drug protocol can be modified to account for any abnormalities.

Once a pet is sedated or anesthetized he or she is monitored continuously by one or more highly trained technicians. Monitoring equipment usually includes continuous ECG, blood pressure, temperature, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels. Even when the procedure is over, someone is watching over the patient until he/she is fully recovered from the effects of the sedation or anesthesia.

Procedures that usually require sedation: radiographs, orthopedic examination, oral examination, minor laceration repair, minor wound care, arthrocentesis (joint taps), skin biopsies, intradermal skin test for allergies, ultrasounds, and some bandage changes.

Procedures that require general anesthesia: invasive or painful procedures like extensive wound debridement, oral surgery (dental extractions, root canals, and dental radiographs), tumor removal, orthopedic surgeries (fractured bones, stifle/knee surgery), and exploratory surgeries

Sedation or anesthesia is recommended to help facilitate the best care possible for your pet. We want both you and your pet to have a positive experience while in our care, which includes controlling pain, discomfort, and anxiety in our patients. Every doctor at Circle City Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital is happy to talk with you about the benefits and risk of anesthesia before a procedure is performed. Please do not hesitate to ask.