Just like humans, pets can suffer from dental issues that may require surgery. When it comes to dental surgery for your pet, understanding the role of veterinary anaesthesia is essential. Here’s what you need to know to ensure the safety and comfort of your pet’s anaesthesia at Sydney Pet Dentistry.
What Is Veterinary Anaesthesia?
Veterinary anaesthesia is the administration of medications to induce unconsciousness and prevent pain during surgical procedures in animals. It allows veterinarians to perform dental surgeries and other invasive treatments without fear or pain and also helps with pain relief after the operation. Veterinary anaesthesia ensures that your pet remains still, allowing us to do the best job for your pet.
The Importance Of Veterinary Anaesthesia In Dental Surgery
Animal dental disease is common and can cause pain, discomfort, and systemic health issues. Dental surgery, including procedures such as tooth extractions and periodontal disease treatment, may be necessary to address these issues.
Veterinary anaesthesia plays a crucial role in ensuring that pets are relaxed, comfortable and pain-free for their procedures.
If your pet is older or at a higher risk of anaesthetic complications, we offer the services of a specialist anaesthetist. This gives a lot of assurance to worried owners! Dr Scott Cumming is our visiting anaesthetist. Read more about Scott here.
Please note that we consider veterinary anaesthesia so important that we will not do anaesthesia-free dentistry. This service might seem like a good idea but it is very scary for many patients and it is impossible to do even a simple scale and polish properly without general anaesthesia.
What Do You Do When Your Pet Comes Home After Anaesthesia?
Our veterinarians will provide post-operative care instructions tailored to your pet’s specific needs, but here are some general tips to keep in mind:
- Monitor Your Pet: Keep a close eye on your pet over the next 24-48 hours. Provide a quiet and comfortable environment for them to recover at home.
- Offer Water: Offer them small amounts of water to help them stay hydrated. Follow the food instructions from your post-operative care instructions.
- Administer Medication: If your veterinarian has prescribed medication for pain management or infection prevention, follow their instructions carefully regarding dosage and administration.
- Limit Activity: During the initial recovery period, it’s important to limit your pet’s activity. Keep them confined to a quiet area and discourage jumping or running until they are fully recovered.
- Contact Us If You Are Worried: We send an SMS out two days after surgery to see how your pet is going. You can reply to this, or feel free to contact us at another time.
As a pet owner, it’s important to understand the role of veterinary anaesthesia in dental surgery and the importance of ensuring your pet’s comfort and safety during these procedures. Want to learn more about veterinary anaesthesia in Sydney? Get in touch with Sydney Pet Dentistry today for professional assistance and expert pet oral care.
