Anesthesia

During your pet’s lifetime, chances are they will undergo a procedure requiring anesthesia. We are compassionate toward pet parents with our understanding that anesthesia can sometimes be frightening; we are here to take the fear out of anesthesia!

Safety And Standard Of Care

Our veterinarians continue their education regularly to ensure we are always using the best anesthetic protocols. Additionally, we meet the stringent standard of care for procedures requiring anesthesia as set by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Prior to any anesthetic procedure we strongly recommend recent bloodwork on your pet as required by AAHA guidelines. Additionally, your veterinarian will do a thorough examination of your pet to assess their overall health prior to any procedure.

It is important to note that most surgical procedures for companion animals are very low risk. Anesthesia for pets is considered extremely safe with the vast majority of pets experiencing no adverse reactions. With our highly trained and credentialed staff, we provide the most comprehensive and safe anesthetic care to all of our patients.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has strict guidelines that accredited hospitals, including Yorkshire Veterinary Hospital, follow for all anesthetic procedures. While there are dozens of standards hospitals must meet, a few are highlighted below:

• A preanesthetic/sedation evaluation is performed and documented (both normal and abnormal findings) by a veterinarian, preferably a veterinarian involved with the procedure, within 24 hours preceding the administration of any premedication, sedation or anesthesia.
• A team member is dedicated to solely monitoring the condition of each patient
  For us this team member is always a certified technician
• A detailed anesthesia record is kept for each patient
• An individualized emergency care plan is documented in the medical record for each anesthetized patient and includes pre-calculated emergency drug dosages.

Monitoring

You can relax knowing that your pet will receive the highest care and careful attention during their stay with us. During your pet’s procedure, a dedicated certified veterinary technician will continually monitor their anesthesia and vital signs. This technician will keep a close eye on your pet’s body temperature, heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygenation. When their procedure is complete, they will be moved to our recovery area and will have a technician monitor them closely until they are fully recovered and resting comfortably after waking up.

The YVH Difference

We maintain the industry standard of care as stated by AAHA guidelines, but we don’t stop there. What sets us apart is the love and attention we give to all of our patients. You may have noticed we have a large staff, this is on purpose! Having a large, talented staff allows us to provide individual attention to our patients without compromising in other areas of our hospital. Pet parents can rest assured that their pet is receiving the very best care in the Colorado Springs area. To schedule your pet’s anesthetic procedure or if you have any questions, please contact our friendly client care team.