What Pet Owners Should Know About Pet Anesthesia
Many pet owners have questions and concerns when it comes to pet anesthesia. If that describes you, you’re not alone. We’ll cover some of the key considerations of anesthesia. If you have any questions and live near Philadelphia, stop by Liberty Vet Pets.
What is Pet Anesthesia and Why is it Needed?
Whether applied to humans or pets, anesthesia is crucial for performing surgeries and other complicated medical procedures. Anesthesia can either be applied locally or generally. With local anesthesia, a specific part of the body, such as a hand or paw, is numbed. With general anesthesia, the pet is put into a sleep-like state. While local anesthesia is common with people, with pets, general anesthesia is more common.
Anesthesia accomplishes a few very important things. First, anesthesia will prevent your pet from feeling pain or discomfort during a complicated medical procedure. Second, anesthesia makes it less likely that your pet will move or thrash during pet surgery. If an animal were to start moving during surgery, it could cause many complications.
Before the advent of pet anesthesia, most forms of pet surgery were difficult if not impossible. If you tried to operate on a dog or cat, he or she would most likely fight back. Ultimately, anesthesia makes pet surgery and other complicated procedures safer and easier for both the pet and the veterinarian.
Is Pet Anesthesia Safe?
Essentially, every medical procedure carries some level of risk with it. However, when applied by a well-trained veterinarian, pet anesthesia is typically quite safe, and complications are rare. Vets spend a lot of time in veterinary school and learning on the job so that they can perform complicated things like putting an animal under for surgery.
The medications used to perform general anesthesia are very powerful. If too much is given to a pet, it could be fatal. At the same time, if not enough is administered, the pet could feel pain during the surgery and might thrash or move. Getting the doses right is crucial to ensure safety. Pet anesthesia ultimately makes surgery much safer. Without it, the risks of complications would increase immensely. That said, it is important to ensure that the anesthesia is applied by trained hands.
Will My Pet Feel the Anesthesia After Surgery?
Often, pets and people will feel groggy after surgery. This is due in part to the anesthesia. Your pet may have trouble with coordination and may be lethargic. This is not necessarily something to worry about. However, if you think your pet may be suffering from some sort of complication, you can always contact a veterinarian.
Contact Our Veterinarian in Philadelphia, PA
Are you looking for a veterinarian near me? If you live around Philadelphia, contact Liberty Vet Pets for all your pet care needs.