People recognized the importance of dulling pain and controlling a patient’s reaction to various medical procedures as far back as in the writings of the Greek physician Hippocrates. He lived between 460–375 BC. It’s an amazing feat when you consider that veterinary anesthesia began in 1847. The concept may not be complex, but the way to do it remained elusive until scientists broke the code. The challenge was to put a patient under and bring them back with minimal risk. While sedation and anesthesia may seem similar, the two processes are vastly different with particular applications.
At a Glance
Sedation
- Used in short procedures
- Administered via injection
- Relatively affordable
- Additional tests on a case-by-case basis
- Patient more conscious and mobile
Anesthesia
- Used in operations and longer procedures
- Usually achieved via injection and the delivery of gas through a breathing tube
- More expensive
- Additional pre-anesthetic testing recommended
- Controlled unconsciousness, patient immobilized
Overview of Sedation:
Sedating for procedures that can cause pain or anxiety is a kindness to the animals. Sedation also allows techs and veterinarians to work without fear of being bit or scratched by an animal. For example, a dog may tolerate a physical examination without much fuss, particularly if the owner has gotten the animal used to being handled and touched. However, it might be a different story with an X-ray or ultrasound. That’s where sedation comes to the rescue.
Under sedation, a vet can position the animal optimally for imaging while being able to do the necessary prep, such as shaving the pet’s belly. It also allows vets to examine dogs, which would otherwise be too anxious or aggressive to tolerate handling. It’s a godsend for the industry. However, it’s not limited to veterinary services. Some pups even require sedation to be groomed.
One main feature of sedation is that it’s usually short. Your dog can get the equivalent of an outpatient procedure done, for example, without hospitalizing them.
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