Anaesthesia in Older Pets

It can be very daunting when booking our older pets into the hospital to go under an anaesthetic.

The Vet Hospital Group clinics would love to help provide reassurance and address any fears pet owners may have about their furry friends undergoing any surgical procedure.

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Here are a few ways we can support our pets and enable them to receive the best and safest healthcare.

Pre-anesthetic Evaluation: Pre-anesthetic screening is essential. This includes blood work (to assess kidney, liver, and thyroid function), urinalysis, and if needed possibly an ECG depending on the animals history. This helps identify any potential risks.

Drug Choice: Older animals often have decreased liver and kidney function, so it’s important to choose anesthetic drugs that are metabolized and excreted efficiently. Short-acting agents that are reversible, such as certain opioids and benzodiazepines, are often preferred. Some animals can tend to be more sensitive to certain drugs, so careful dose adjustments are necessary so we are ensuring the safest anaesthetic possible.

Monitoring: We will always provide continuous monitoring throughout the procedure and check all vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen saturation) This is crucial to detect any early signs of complications.

Post-anesthetic Care: any animal post surgery requires close monitoring after the procedure to ensure they regain consciousness safely. They will always be provided a quiet, warm environment during recovery and we will offer pain management as needed.

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