Changes

Monitoring of the patient should continue, even after the anaesthetic agent has been switched off. If the patient has had an ET tube placed then it is vital that the animal is observed until removal of the tube. When to remove the tube varies between species, but it should not be removed until the animal is breathing spontaneously and unaided. Dogs tolerate the placement of an ET tube well and it can often be left in until after the dog is swallowing and in some cases once the dog is in sternal recumbany. Cats however are less tolerant of ET tubes and so it is important to remove the tube before the cat swallows as it can cause trauma to the larynx. Horses have the tube removed as soon as possible, but a nasal tube is placed to help with any drainage.  

Monitoring of the patient should continue, even after the anaesthetic agent has been switched off. If the patient has had an ET tube placed then it is vital that the animal is observed until removal of the tube. When to remove the tube varies between species, but it should not be removed until the animal is breathing spontaneously and unaided. Dogs tolerate the placement of an ET tube well and it can often be left in until after the dog is swallowing and in some cases once the dog is in sternal recumbany. Cats however are less tolerant of ET tubes and so it is important to remove the tube before the cat swallows as it can cause trauma to the larynx. Horses have the tube removed as soon as possible, but a nasal tube is placed to help with any drainage.  

Recovery after an anaesthetic should be in a quite calm environment. This allows the patient to full recover slowly allowing for a smoother recovery period. If the animal has undergone a timely procedure or the patient is a small and so likely to have a degree of hypothermia then it may be appropriate for them to be placed into an incubator (if available) or on heatpads or warm hands. To try and prevent such a drop in body temperature during the surgery heatpads or warm hands can be used.  

Recovery after an anaesthetic should be in a quiet and calm environment. This allows the patient to full recover slowly allowing for a smoother recovery period. If the animal has undergone a timely procedure or the patient is a small and so likely to have a degree of hypothermia then it may be appropriate for them to be placed into an incubator (if available) or on heatpads or warm hands. To try and prevent such a drop in body temperature during the surgery heatpads or warm hands can be used.  

Another important post-operative consideration is analgesia. Many procedures are painful and so it is important to aid recovery and make the animal patient that analgesia is continued after the procedure has been completed. It is important to remember that some analgesics may have a sedative effect also so patients should be continually monitored.

Another important post-operative consideration is analgesia. Many procedures are painful and so it is important to aid recovery and make the animal patient that analgesia is continued after the procedure has been completed. It is important to remember that some analgesics may have a sedative effect also so patients should be continually monitored.