12 Jul The Role of Veterinary Anesthesiologists
Did you know that there are veterinarians who specialize in anesthesiology?
Veterinary anesthesiologists are veterinarians who have completed additional education and passed an exam to become board-certified in anesthesia. Like most specialists, veterinary anesthesiologists typically complete an internship of 1-2 years, followed by a 3-year residency. The American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia oversees and certifies veterinary anesthesiologists.
Veterinary anesthesiologists specialize in managing their patient’s wellbeing throughout the entire procedure. This includes evaluating their health prior to anesthesia, selecting a drug protocol, monitoring them during anesthesia, and managing their pain and recovery afterwards. Veterinary anesthesiologists are also experts in handling patients that have an increased risk of complications during anesthesia, such as those with heart disease, kidney disease, endocrine disease or any other systemic condition.
Whether your pet needs anesthesia for a surgery or a dental cleaning, you can rest assured that they are in good hands.
In-Person vs. Remote Anesthesia Support
Here at Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery in Fort Collins, we provide both in-person and remote anesthesia support services. We are also lucky to work with three board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists: Dr. Bonnie Wright, Dr. Martin Kennedy, and Dr. Caitlin Tearney.
In-Person Support
Dr. Bonnie Wright provides in-person anesthesia here at Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery. After thoroughly reviewing the patient’s medical history and giving them a physical exam, she meets with our clients to discuss her anesthetic plan.
Then, with the assistance of one of our highly trained Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), Dr. Wright will give an intramuscular injection of a sedative along with a pain medication (called the “pre-medication”) which will make the patient sleepy and relaxed.
Next, an intravenous catheter (IV) is placed, and the patient is attached to a variety of monitoring equipment. A drug is then given through the IV to anesthetize the patient, and an endotracheal tube is placed in their throat to provide oxygen and gas anesthesia, and to protect the airway.
Dr. Wright monitors the patient throughout the entire procedure, and stays with them through recovery until they are alert and mobile again.
Remote Support
Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Tearney both provide remote anesthesia support. This job is very similar to in-person anesthesia support, except that the doctors are not physically in the building. Remote anesthesiologists still thoroughly review the patient’s medical history and discuss physical exam findings with the Veterinary DentistTM or resident (also a licensed veterinarian) before tailoring their drug plan to the patient’s specific needs.
Our RVTs administer the pre-medication, and then anesthetize and intubate the patient under the direction of the remote anesthesiologist on duty. Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Tearney can mirror the anesthetic monitoring equipment on their own computers, and they will stay in constant communication with the RVT throughout the procedure. This way, they can catch any changes right away and instruct the RVT to provide additional medication, or advise them to change the anesthesic plan as needed.
Drs. Kennedy and Tearney are also available on an emergency basis for all patients anesthetized at Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery. Even healthy patients with routine anesthetic procedures can occasionally run into anesthetic complications. Should that occur with a patient who was not initially anesthetized by an anesthesiologist, our RVTs and veterinarians will always involve Dr. Kennedy or Dr. Tearney to ensure that the complication is managed in the safest way possible.
Which option should I choose?
For patients with a higher anesthetic risk, in-person anesthesia is recommended. However, our remote anesthesiologists are equally capable of handling the case.
Some of our clients feel more comfortable meeting the veterinary anesthesiologist before the procedure, in which case Dr. Wright may be the preferred option. However, Dr. Wright’s schedule is more limited, as she is only at Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery about once a week.
For patients with more urgent anesthetic needs, either Dr. Kennedy or Dr. Tearney is available every day. Regardless, Drs. Wright, Kennedy, and Tearney are all very experienced and knowledgeable veterinary anesthesiologists who are excellent at what they do.
If you have any questions or concerns about your pet going under anesthesia, we’d be glad to put your mind at rest. Contact us today to schedule a veterinary dental exam or to learn more about our anesthesiology procedures.
Photo by Harrison Fitts on Unsplash used with permission 7/12/24 under the Creative Commons License for Commercial Use.