The brachycephalic breeds, such as Persians and Himalayans, which have more restricted airways due to their facial structure, could be considered a bit higher risk.

A responsible veterinarian will make sure that you understand there are risks when a cat goes into general anesthesia. They should never gloss over those risks. They should explain how they know how to mitigate risk and how confident they are in doing so. They should also be open to discussing your past experiences with pet anesthesia. One unique aspect of what we do here at Blue Oasis is that we allow you to stay with your cat while they undergo a general anesthesia procedure. This enables you to witness how we work to mitigate those risks and ensure your pet's safety. Additionally, you can be present to ask questions as we guide your pet through the procedure.

Some of the risks of anesthesia include hypothermia, complications with controlling airways, coughing due to interference with the trachea, risk of aspiration pneumonia due to a communication between the airway and the stomach and esophagus, development of arrhythmias and low blood pressures, and potential kidney injury.

The duration of anesthesia depends on what we need to accomplish. A dental procedure may require two to three hours of general anesthesia, while a neuter may only require 10 minutes. As long as we're monitoring and maintaining stable vitals, we can keep the cats under for as long as necessary.

Safety is paramount when your cat is under general anesthesia. The overseeing doctor and a dedicated nurse, usually a licensed veterinary technician, will be present during the procedure. We also use monitors to keep track of the heart rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen levels, breathing, and temperature of the cat.

Preparation starts at home. If your pet is scheduled for a procedure, we'll often prescribe a calming pack - a set of medications or therapeutics for your pet to take before coming to the hospital. We'll usually call you a week before the procedure to come in and get these medications.

Yes, we require blood work to be done before administering anesthesia. This helps us find out if your pet has any underlying organ issues that we need to know about before moving forward with the procedure or to confirm that they're healthy enough for general anesthesia.

Anesthesia involves taking your cat from consciousness to unconsciousness in a controlled way, often with an endotracheal tube to control the depth and duration. Sedation is used for shorter periods, like for diagnostic imaging or quick wound repairs. It immobilizes the cats, but they still have reflexes and some consciousness. General anesthesia involves intubation and a machine running to keep them under for a long period.

The most common procedures involving general anesthesia for cats include a complete oral health assessment and treatment, dental cleaning, and spaying or neutering. Other instances involve intensive wound care or following unfortunate accidents like being hit by a car or a dog bite injury.

The most common types of anesthesia used for cats are injectable types. We often use drugs such as ketamine and alfaxalone. These dissociative drugs detach the conscious mind. To maintain these injectables, we commonly use gas anesthesia, the most common type being isoflurane. However, some hospitals use sevoflurane. Both are types of gas anesthetics used to keep your pet under general anesthesia.