Anaesthesia for Minor Procedures (EU20)

PIL AB Article

Anaesthesia can be produced either by blocking sensation to a particular region of the body (local or regional anaesthesia), or by administration of drugs that produce loss of consciousness (general anaesthetics).

PIL AB Article

Anaesthesia may produce nausea and vomiting so some animals should be fasted before surgery.

PIL AB Article

There are many available injectable anaesthetic agents.

PIL AB Article

There are many inhalational anaesthetic agents.

PIL AB Article

We can assess withdrawal reflexes in most animals.

PIL AB Article

We can assess respiration, blink reflex and monitor heart rate amongst other checks.

PIL AB Article

Modern anaesthetic agents are very potent, so it is easy to inadvertently overdose an animal. To avoid this, and also to ensure that onset (induction) of anaesthesia is smooth and that an appropriate depth of anaesthesia is produced, an anaesthetic vaporiser should be used.

PIL AB Article

Recovery from anaesthesia should be smooth, without excitement, or prolonged recumbence and should be pain free.

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