The return of muscle tone and the ability to voluntarily move are also excellent indicators of the progression towards recovery and should be routinely assessed. Several complications frequently occur in a post-anesthesia period. Abnormalities in body temperature, particularly low body temperature, very commonly develop in anesthetized animals and have an important impact on the patient's recovery. Routine monitoring of body temperature is necessary. Heat lamps and electrical resistance heating pads may cause thermal burns in animals compromised by anesthesia and represent a electrocution hazard, and hence, are not recommended.
Dehydration commonly develops in anesthetized animals.
Intravenous or subcutaneous fluid therapy will often remedy dehydration and speed an animal's recovery. Lung congestion can be prevented by turning a laterally recumbant animals. They should not remain with the same side down for over four hours. Aspiration of vomitus can be minimized by lowering an animal's head slightly below the level of the chest. Ruminants can develop a life-threatening bloat.