At Veterinary Specialty Hospital – North County, ensuring the safety and comfort of our patients is essential. General anesthesia is necessary for many procedures including MRI and CT scans, endoscopy procedures, ophthalmic procedures, and surgery. The overall risk of general anesthesia, in our healthy veterinary patients with appropriate monitoring, is very low (less than 1% in recent studies). However, we realize the thought of having your pet anesthetized can be worrisome.

Veterinary Specialty Hospital – North County offers individualized anesthesia planning for every patient that is to undergo sedation or anesthesia at our hospital. Prior to anesthesia, the doctor will perform a complete physical examination and consider your pet’s temperament, age, breed, health, and procedure when creating their plan. These considerations will influence drug choices, support, and the monitoring of your pet while they are anesthetized to make sure he or she is safe from beginning to end. An important component of the anesthetic plan is a customized approach to pain management. Whenever possible, loco-regional anesthesia techniques, such as nerve blocks and epidurals, are incorporated into each pet’s pain management plan as they have become the standard of care in human medicine. Such techniques hasten the return to normal activity, provide the best pain control after surgery, and allow us to use lower doses of other medications that can affect alertness and appetite.

Our Anesthesia Team

At Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County, our Anesthesia Team plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and comfort of every patient undergoing anesthesia. The team develops individualized anesthesia plans tailored to each pet’s specific needs, directly oversees anesthetic procedures, and is prepared to respond to any unforeseen complications should they arise.

Our team has extensive experience managing anesthesia for patients with a wide range of medical conditions, including:

• Cardiovascular, pulmonary, liver, and kidney disease

• Endocrine disorders

• Neurological conditions

• Emergency procedures requiring anesthesia

They are also highly skilled in advanced regional anesthesia techniques such as ultrasound-guided and electro-located nerve blocks. These methods enhance pain control and improve outcomes for a variety of procedures, including orthopedic, oral, abdominal, and thoracic surgeries.

Each anesthetized patient is carefully monitored by an experienced veterinary technician dedicated solely to their care. Our team also includes a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Anesthesia & Analgesia, a credentialed technician who has achieved advanced certification and expertise specifically in the area of anesthesia and pain management.

Every anesthetized patient is closely monitored using state-of-the-art equipment that tracks critical parameters such as oxygen levels, blood pressure, respiratory function, and heart activity, ensuring the highest level of safety throughout the procedure. This constant attention ensures your pet remains safe, stable, and comfortable throughout the entire procedure.

Along with continuous monitoring, we place great emphasis on preparation and vigilance, ensuring our team is fully equipped to promptly recognize and address any anesthetic concerns that may arise during your pet’s procedure. Once the procedure is complete, your pet will remain under close, personalized care as they recover, with our team carefully managing their comfort, safety, and well-being every step of the way.

Your Pet is in the Best Hands

Please take comfort in knowing your pet will be well cared for if he or she requires general anesthesia at Veterinary Specialty Hospital – North County. In addition to our knowledgeable staff, we provide the warm, compassionate care that we would desire for our own pets. From the moment your pet enters the hospital until the time of discharge, our entire team is dedicated to eliminating any stress, anxiety, and discomfort during their stay.

We are here to support you. No patient is too old or too complicated for anesthesia. Rarely, they may be too ill however, in these cases, we can help guide decision-making for these patients