Alpine Veterinary Clinic, P.C.

Anesthesia FAQ

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What is anesthesia?

Literally, anesthesia means "without sensation".  Anesthesia is a necessary tool for rendering a patient

incapable of feeling or responding to irritating/painful stimuli commonly encountered during routine

diagnostic, medical and surgical procedures.

Do you have to sedate every pet that comes in for medical services?

No, and furthermore, we prefer not to use sedatives unless safety issues are involved.  Our experience puts

animals at ease when they come to our office.  In general, most of our patients are extremely cooperative with

examinations, vaccinations, and other procedures and don't require anything more than a gentle,

experienced hand when it comes to providing their medical needs.

What types of anesthesia are available at your clinic?

When necessary, we use several different anesthesia techniques depending on the medical or surgical

procedure.  These techniques range from simple nerve blocks, and sedation (no loss of conciousness) to

general anesthesia (complete loss of conciousness) which mimics a deep sleep.  For safety purposes and

maximum patient comfort, most surgeries require general anesthesia.

Are there any risks associated with anesthesia?

Any type of anesthesia (human or animal) presents a risk of complications or, in rare instances, even death.  It

is difficult, if not impossible to predict how any given patient will react during an anesthetic episode.  Please

be assured, however, that we take anesthesia events seriously and our goal with each anesthetic patient is to

minimize these risks and be ready to address any complications that may arise.

What will you do to minimize the anesthesia risks for my pet?

After conducting a complete physical exam and reviewing your pets medical history, each anesthesia is

individually planned.  We use the safest anesthetic agents currently available, and all patients undergoing

general anesthesia are provided with oxygen support, and are monitored for changes in vital signs including

heart rate, EKG, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Is there anything I can do to help minimize the anesthesia risks for my pet?

Yes.  Please provide us with a complete medical history for your pet, and consider having us run some basic

pre-operative blood tests that might give us a clearer picture of your pets overall health.

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December 29, 2024