During anesthesia the patient should be monitored to insure adequate circulation, oxygenation, and ventilation. Suggestions for monitoring anesthetized veterinary patients have been developed the the American Veterinary Medical Association. For large species the pulse, respiratory rate, mucuous membrane color and temperature should be monitored on a routine basis. Monitoring anesthesia in rodents is possible but the small size of rodents precludes the use of several methods to monitor anesthesia commonly used in larger species.
Ocular reflexes are of little value in monitoring depth of anesthesia in sheep.