Veterinary Services

Pet Anesthesia in Portland, Maine

Any time your pet needs to be put under anesthesia, it’s quite normal to worry about them.

Dog sitting next to vet

Pet Anesthesia

It’s very common to worry about your pet any time he or she has to undergo anesthesia. While there is some degree of risk with any medical procedure, we utilize the safest available medications and require pre-operative blood testing to ensure that your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia.

We closely monitor all vitals to make sure your pet is safe and unharmed while he or she is under anesthesia, including heart activity, ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory system, and temperature.

In addition, our experienced medical team provides skilled pain management during and after all surgical procedures to see that your pet recovers quickly and with minimum discomfort.

There are two main forms of anesthesia: general and local. General anesthesia is what it what is often referred to as “putting someone under.” Once your pet is cleared for general anesthesia, he or she will be injected with a short-acting agent that leads to a loss of consciousness. We then insert a soft plastic tube into your pet’s windpipe through which oxygen and other gasses will flow. Anesthetized pets and their vital signs are monitored constantly during any and all procedures so that, in the unlikely event of an adverse reaction, we can respond to it immediately.

Local anesthesia, on the other paw, refers to the one-time injection of medication meant to numb a particular area of your pet’s body. We might employ “a local” when giving your pet stitches or performing a biopsy or bone repair. Your pet will be awake the entire time, and while he or she might feel some pressure at the injection site, there should be no significant pain or discomfort. Side effects are very rare and usually mild.

Have questions about general anesthesia prior to your pet’s appointment? Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (207) 761-8033.