Although some of the cases we treat are young healthy animals, the majority are critically ill and injured or elderly pets. In our department almost all the diagnostic tests or recommended treatments require that the pets go under general anesthesia. At SouthPaws we select from a large array of controlled and non-controlled drugs, which gives us the flexibility we need. Almost all of our patients will receive some sort of pre-operative medication. The majority of dogs will get subcutaneous injections of hydromorphone and glycopyrolate.
Most cats receive a subcutaneous injection of torbugesic.
As the nature of the cases change and anesthetic risk of the patient demands, we will alter the protocols. Acepromazine, oxymorphone, fentanyl, etomidate, or even just isoflurane can be used in conjunction with the other drugs or instead of similar agents. Special Cases Special cases are pretty much all we deal with, so we have different anesthetic protocols set up and ready. Occasionally we will use propofol in cats, but it is our experience that propofol severely depresses the cat's blood pressure and respiratory rate. Many times straight Isoflurane with a mask or induction chamber is also employed.