There are a large number of veterinary procedures performed on cats, dogs, and other pets which require anesthesia or sedation. Almost every pet will need to be anesthetized sometime during its life. All pets who are spayed or neutered will require anesthesia. For some animals, a simple nail trim will require that they be sedated for a short time if an all-out war is to be avoided. For others who undergo certain surgeries such as a fracture repair, hours of anesthesia may be necessary.

Anesthesia for small animals has improved dramatically over the last few years, with new medications, monitoring devices, and the implementation of routine preanesthesia screening. Fewer complications and faster recoveries are now the norm. Pain control has now become an important part of many therapies and procedures. The following articles will explain, in more depth, how anesthesia is used and monitored in a typical veterinary hospital.