Veterinary Tech Guide to Dog Anesthesia Setups

In order for a vet tech to set up for an anesthetic procedure for a dog, all necessary equipment must be obtained and organized in advance. The better prepared a vet tech is, the more efficient the anesthetic procedure will be.

  1. Equipment required

    • Vet techs monitor dogs during anesthetic procedures.

      The major piece of equipment required for dog anesthesia is a gas anesthetic machine. A vet tech must know the essential components of a gas anesthetic circuit in order to set up the machine and safely monitor the patient during the anesthetic procedure. Ancillary equipment to monitor the patient, such as an EKG, blood pressure monitor, IV pump, and blood gas analyzer, are set up in advance. Emergency drugs and supplies are placed close by.

    Patient preparation

    • Vet techs administer sedatives to dogs.

      The vet tech is in charge of preparing the patient for anesthesia. The vet tech examines the dog and records the vital signs. If the doctor has ordered blood work, the vet tech draws the dog's blood and runs the preoperative blood tests. The vet tech places an IV catheter in the dog's leg and may also be responsible for administering preoperative sedatives to the patient.

    Postoperative care

    • Vet techs are responsible for dog's postoperative care.

      Prior to the anesthetic procedure, a vet tech must prepare for the postoperative care that the dog will need. The vet tech sets up a warm, padded recovery kennel. Postoperative medications ordered by the doctor such as analgesics for pain and antibiotics should be drawn up and ready to administer. The vet tech monitors the dog until it is fully recovered from the anesthetic procedure.