Cat Anesthesia

Meta Description: Cat anesthesia is necessary for specific medical procedures. Learn everything you need to know about cat anesthesia, including how to minimize health risks.

Cats may need anesthesia when undergoing specific medical procedures, like neutering or spaying. The anesthesia may either be general to the whole body or local to numb particular parts of the body. Read on and find out more information about cat anesthesia.

Is Cat Anesthesia Risky?

Anesthesia does have a few risks, regardless of how long the patient will be anesthetized.  The reactions may range from mild symptoms to serious problems that require your vet’s intervention. They vary from swelling at injection sites to serious results like anaphylactic shock and death. Even though these symptoms appear worrying, fortunately there numerous ways you can prevent your cat from getting these health risks.

First of all, making sure that the cat has fasted for a few hours before the anesthesia is applied is critical for mitigating these health risks. When cat fails to fast before anesthesia, then they can quickly vomit their food or aspirate fluid into their lungs. These problems could lead to aspiration pneumonia, a life-threating condition.

Ways of Minimizing Cat Anesthesia Risks

Ensure that your vet has a comprehensive medical history of your cat before administering the anesthesia. That history includes the vaccinations, medications, and lifestyle, which may all affect how your cat reacts to anesthesia. Vets typically recommend pre-surgical diagnostic tests and examinations to check for underlying health disorders that must be dealt with before anesthesia application.

Some recommended diagnostic examinations include:

•    CBC blood test to check for blood-related disorders

•    Chemistry panels to test liver, pancreatic and kidney function

•    Electrolyte examination to make sure the cat doesn’t have electrolyte imbalances and isn’t dehydrated

Your vet will add more tests based on the individual examination of your cat. Some additional tests include placing an IV catheter to prepare for the anesthesia application. The catheter may be used for providing intravenous fluids for hydration and also as an easy way of administering medication. The IV fluids not only maintain blood pressure and hydration, but they also assist your cat in their recovery process by helping kidneys and livers to clear the anesthetics more quickly.

Conclusion

The cat will be continuously monitored during the anesthesia application based on various elements like heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. After the procedure, ensure that you adhere to all the vet’s instructions, particularly regarding feeding. Also, consult your vet if your cat develops any issues after the medical procedure.

References: Pet health network, Vca hospitals, The sprucepets