Yes, it is possible that your cat could die from general anesthesia, although it's a very minor risk if all precautions are taken. Veterinarians are trained medical professionals who know how to mitigate risks and promote safety, but there are things that are out of our control when an animal is under general anesthesia. Anesthetic death, although rare, is a real risk of general anesthesia.

Mitigating risks and side effects involves having a complete health exam on your cat, conducting pre-anesthetic blood work to check organ function, and doing an ECG to examine the cardiac rhythm. Checking the heart health before anesthesia is also important.

The brachycephalic breeds, such as Persians and Himalayans, which have more restricted airways due to their facial structure, could be considered a bit higher risk.

A responsible veterinarian will make sure that you understand there are risks when a cat goes into general anesthesia. They should never gloss over those risks. They should explain how they know how to mitigate risk and how confident they are in doing so. They should also be open to discussing your past experiences with pet anesthesia. One unique aspect of what we do here at Blue Oasis is that we allow you to stay with your cat while they undergo a general anesthesia procedure. This enables you to witness how we work to mitigate those risks and ensure your pet's safety. Additionally, you can be present to ask questions as we guide your pet through the procedure.

Some of the risks of anesthesia include hypothermia, complications with controlling airways, coughing due to interference with the trachea, risk of aspiration pneumonia due to a communication between the airway and the stomach and esophagus, development of arrhythmias and low blood pressures, and potential kidney injury.

The duration of anesthesia depends on what we need to accomplish. A dental procedure may require two to three hours of general anesthesia, while a neuter may only require 10 minutes. As long as we're monitoring and maintaining stable vitals, we can keep the cats under for as long as necessary.

Safety is paramount when your cat is under general anesthesia. The overseeing doctor and a dedicated nurse, usually a licensed veterinary technician, will be present during the procedure. We also use monitors to keep track of the heart rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen levels, breathing, and temperature of the cat.

Preparation starts at home. If your pet is scheduled for a procedure, we'll often prescribe a calming pack - a set of medications or therapeutics for your pet to take before coming to the hospital. We'll usually call you a week before the procedure to come in and get these medications.

Yes, we require blood work to be done before administering anesthesia. This helps us find out if your pet has any underlying organ issues that we need to know about before moving forward with the procedure or to confirm that they're healthy enough for general anesthesia.