Manlius Pet Anesthesia & Pain Management

Helping Animals Through Injury & Illness

The following information is to provide general information about the current standard of care for safe anesthesia and pain control for your pet, as well as the level of care you should expect for your pet.

Anesthesia has become better and safer. The use of more sophisticated monitoring, improved physiological support, advanced techniques, and the availability and selection of safer anesthetic drugs are responsible for much of this improvement. We are now able to provide successful anesthetic management for patients who in prior years would have been more likely to have significant complications. Unfortunately, there are no foolproof anesthetic drugs.

For information on how we can help your pet, contact our office online or call us directly at (315) 508-7884 today.

At Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital of Manlius, P.C. your veterinarian and the well-trained technicians work together as your pet's anesthesia and pain management team. They have an extensive knowledge of anesthesia, pain prevention and pain control topics. They are responsible for your pet's comfort and well-being.

Safe anesthesia begins with a careful preanesthetic evaluation of your pet. This evaluation is essential for the selection of an anesthetic and pain management regimen. Each patient is evaluated and has a tailored anesthetic protocol designed for them.

There are many things to consider when choosing an anesthetic protocol, including:

• Species
• Breed
• Age
• Temperament
• Any current systemic disease
• Current physical examination
• Body condition score (overall conditioning and body fat)
• Previous and current medications and supplements
• Pre-anesthesia laboratory workup

A member of your pet's anesthesia team will be with your pet throughout its procedure and until recovery is complete. They will continuously evaluate your pet through anesthesia because the awareness of the ever-changing condition of the anesthetized patient is essential for safe and effective anesthesia and analgesia to be accomplished.

A few questions to ask before your pet's anesthesia:

• Is your pet treated gently and patiently on arrival?
• Is the hospital clean?
• Were proper laboratory screening tests performed before anesthesia?
• Will there be a trained, licensed veterinary technician whose only job is to be dedicated to monitoring and caring for your pet during the pre-anesthetic medication administration, during anesthesia, and until your pet is fully recovered from anesthesia after the procedure?
• Are medications given before anesthesia to decrease your young pet's anxiety, relax it before surgery, and decrease the amount of anesthesia needed?
• Will an intravenous (IV) catheter be placed before anesthesia?
• If no IV catheter is placed, how is rapid access to the blood supply going to happen to administer medications and supportive care in case of an emergency (when seconds count)? Or if there are any complications or unexpected reactions to anesthesia, medications or procedure?
• Are IV fluids administered for blood pressure and circulatory support during surgery and until your pet is fully recovered?
• Are your pet's blood oxygen levels being monitored during anesthesia?
• Are your pet's respiratory carbon dioxide levels being monitored during anesthesia?
• Is blood pressure being monitored during anesthesia?
• What pain medication is given and when?
• Are pain medications being used before, during and after surgery or a painful?
• Gas anesthesia causes relaxation and stops movement, but it does not stop nerves from sensing pain!
• Is your pet going home on pain medication?
• Just because animals do not outwardly demonstrate easily recognized signs of pain does not mean that they do not hurt. Research has dispelled the myth that dogs and cats do not feel pain the way that people do. If a procedure is painful for us, it is painful for them!
• Are any questions or concerns you have about the procedure or the hospital stay being answered satisfactorily?

At Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital all patients undergoing planned anesthesia and procedures have individualized medical plans developed for their unique needs during their hospital stay.

Our care for your pet includes, but is not limited to:

• All pets are treated with compassion to minimize their stress.
• Our hospital is a well maintained, state-of-the-art, patient-centered medical facility.
• Your pet's veterinarian and the health care team assigned to your pet are personally responsible for your pet's comfort and well-being.
• Every pet has a careful evaluation before any medications are administered.
• Sedatives, medications for pain, and anti-anxiety medications are used before anesthesia and procedures.
• If your pet needs medication for pain prevention and control, we incorporate an effective and safe pain management strategy. We understand that the timing of pain medication administration is crucial!
• Pain medicationsand local nerve blocks are used before the potential painful procedure has started to minimize our patients' discomfort.
• All anesthesia and surgical patients have IV catheters placed before general anesthesia.
• They all receive IV fluids before the induction of anesthesia, during anesthesia and until they are fully recovered from anesthesia.
• A licensed, trained veterinary technician will be with your pet throughout anesthesia, the procedure and recovery.
• Your pet's blood pressure, blood oxygen and respiratory carbon dioxide levels are only some of the vital information monitored during any anesthetic procedure.
• We will strive to answer all your questions and provide detailed discharge instructions for your pet's care after anesthesia and the procedure.
• Pain medication is dispensed for any procedure causing discomfort to maintain your pet's comfort at home.

Our advanced anesthetic methods and advanced pain management program help achieve our goal of your pet's comfort and well-being during its hospitalization for anesthesia and any procedures.

To schedule your appointment, call our office at (315) 508-7884 or complete our online contact form.