What is anesthesia in cats?
Anesthesia is really about getting cats to a plane of consciousness where they're not aware of what's happening and their body isn't able to feel as much pain. We achieve this unconscious state using a variety of drugs and inhalant gas.
When might a cat require anesthesia?
From the beginning of life, getting your cat spayed is something that we do under full anesthesia. Later in life, the most common reason for cats to be under anesthesia is for dental procedures. Other reasons include any medical interventions like fixing a broken bone or mass removal.
What are the risks of anesthesia for cats, especially older cats?
If the heart and lungs sound good and blood work looks good on your cat, then their risk for anesthesia is very low. Even if they're an older cat, age is not a disease. As long as blood work and heart and lungs are in good condition, the risk for anesthesia is really low.
What's the difference between anesthesia and sedation?
That's a great question. I was taught in vet school that it's more of a gray area with sedation on one end and anesthesia on the other. Generally, anesthesia means having a breathing tube in, so they're breathing in oxygen and anesthetic gas. To get them there, we give a series of injections that are sedatives. First, they're calm when we place an IV catheter, and then we give more medications through that IV to place the breathing tube.
What do I need to know before my cat goes for an anesthetic procedure? Is there a pre-exam required, blood work, or any fasting?
We always want to do an exam ahead of time to check for red flags like a heart murmur or abnormal heart rate. We repeat this examination the morning of the anesthetic event. Blood work is generally required, though there are cases where a cat might be too spicy, and we can't safely get blood work until sedated. As for fasting, it's not always required but makes anesthesia safer by reducing the risk of vomiting or regurgitating and inhaling stomach content.
What are common complications during cat anesthesia?
The most common issue is getting cold under anesthesia, so we use warm blankets and heating mats. Low blood pressure is another common complication, but we can intervene with fluids or reduce the anesthetic gas rate. Rarely, we might see abnormal electrical activity in the heart. Serious complications are very rare, especially when blood work and heart and lungs are in good condition.
How do you ensure safety during the anesthetic procedure?
We make sure there are no big red flags before the procedure and have all necessary monitoring equipment during the procedure. We check heart rate, ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and breathing rate. There are lots of interventions if abnormalities are detected, such as medications to regulate heart rate or fluids to boost blood pressure.
What should I expect when my cat is recovering from anesthesia?
We help your cat out of anesthesia so they leave the hospital maybe just a little groggy. Sometimes cats can get excited on certain medications, especially opiates, which are common pain medications. You might see them with erect whiskers, dilated pupils, and increased activity like making excessive muffins or getting the zoomies. If so, keep them in a nice, dark, confined place to prevent injury.
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