Anaesthesia

Veterinary Anaesthesia for Dogs and Cats at Small Friends Veterinary Hospital

Veterinary anaesthesia is routinely used in modern veterinary practice to ensure pets receive safe, pain-free treatment and procedures. Anaesthesia allows our veterinary team to perform important medical and surgical care while keeping your pet calm, comfortable, and stress-free.

Dog receiving veterinary anaesthesia at Small Friends Veterinary Hospital
  • Anaesthesia may be used for
  • Surgical procedures such as desexing and dental treatments
  • Reducing stress and movement during specific examinations or imaging
  • Emergency treatment, for example, during seizures or trauma
  • Protecting the safety and well-being of your pet and our veterinary and nursing staff
  • Is Anaesthesia Safe for Pets?

All anaesthesia carries some risk. However, thanks to modern veterinary medicine and monitoring equipment, these risks are significantly reduced. At Small Friends Veterinary Hospital, your pet’s safety is our highest priority.

We minimise anaesthetic risk by:

  • Performing a full pre-anaesthetic health examination
  • Conducting pre-anaesthetic blood testing
  • Using safe and carefully selected anaesthetic drugs
  • Closely monitoring your pet throughout and after anaesthesia
  •  
  • Pre-Anaesthetic Examination for Dogs and Cats

Before your pet receives anaesthesia, our veterinary team performs a thorough physical examination. This includes checking:

  • Gums and hydration
  • Heart rate and rhythm
  • Pulse and breathing rate
  • Lung sounds
  • Body temperature
  • Body weight

This helps identify any signs of illness that may affect anaesthetic safety.

  • Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing

Blood testing helps detect underlying health issues that may not yet show visible symptoms. These tests assess:

  • Kidney and liver function
  • Blood glucose and protein levels
  • Red and white blood cells
  • Platelets and clotting ability

Healthy liver and kidney function is essential because these organs process anaesthetic drugs. Blood results also alert us to anaemia, infection, or clotting problems so we can tailor your pet’s anaesthetic plan.

  • Safe and Modern Anaesthetic Drugs

We use a combination of propofol or alfaxalone and isoflurane for most dog and cat anaesthetics. These are among the safest anaesthetic agents available in veterinary medicine and are also widely used in human hospitals.

These medications:

  • Act quickly and are short-lasting
  • Allow precise control of anaesthetic depth
  • Support faster and smoother recovery
  • Are carefully dosed based on your pet’s age, weight, and health condition
  • Continuous Anaesthetic Monitoring

Your pet is closely monitored by trained veterinary and nursing staff throughout the entire anaesthetic procedure.

Monitoring includes:

  • Capnograph to monitor respiration
  • ECG  (electrocardiogram) to monitor the hearts electrical activity
  • NIBP (non-invasive blood pressure) to monitor Systolic, Diastolic, and Mean arterial blood pressure
  • Temperature
  • IVFT

This constant monitoring allows rapid response to any changes.

  • What Does General Anaesthetic Do?

A general anaesthetic places your pet into a controlled unconscious state. During anaesthesia, your pet is:

  • Unaware of what is happening
  • Free from pain
  • Unable to move
  • Without memory of the procedure

This ensures a calm, stress-free experience for your pet.

  • Why Must My Pet Fast Before Anaesthesia?

Pets must have an empty stomach before anaesthesia to reduce the risk of vomiting. Vomiting during or after anaesthesia can cause aspiration pneumonia if stomach contents enter the lungs.

Aspiration pneumonia can lead to:

  • Lung inflammation
  • Infection
  • Breathing difficulties

We recommend:

  • No solid food for 12 hours before surgery
  • Water is allowed during this time
  • Pain Relief After Surgery

If your pet undergoes surgery, they will receive a short-acting pain relief injection before their anaesthetic to ensure pain relief is active during their procedure and recovery. After surgery, our team will continue to closely monitor and evaluate their comfort using a standardised pain scoring system and administering a longer-acting pain relief medication to provide ongoing pain control if required . We use a multimodal approach to pain management helps keep your pet comfortable and supports a smoother recovery.

  • Caring for Your Pet After Anaesthesia

At discharge, Dr Matt will provide specific instructions for your pet’s procedure.

General post-anaesthetic care includes:

  • Stay home with your pet the first evening after surgery
  • Expect sleepiness and reduced activity
  • Provide free access to water
  • Feed a small meal in two portions, two hours apart
  • Some pets may vomit after anaesthesia. If this occurs, contact Small Friends Veterinary Hospital on 02 6262 2233

Your pet may feel hungry after fasting, but avoid overfeeding.

Ready to book or have questions about anaesthesia?

Our caring veterinary team is here to answer your questions and ensure your pet’s safety every step of the way.

Call the Clinic