What is the difference between anesthesia, sedation, and general anesthesia? When is each used?

I look at that as the different levels of consciousness for the pet. And so sedation might be taking the edge off or calming your pet. We use that a lot for cats whenever they are nervous coming into the hospital, and they may not allow us to do the physical exam or the procedures we need to do. We may send something home that you can give by mouth, which would be a mild sedative to take the edge off. They're still aware, able to walk around, and respond to you and know what's going on. The other part that you asked was general anesthesia, and that would be full loss of consciousness and awareness in response to pain, which would be for a complete surgical procedure.

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.