anesthesia

"There are no safe anesthetic agents; there are no safe anesthetic procedures; there are only safe anesthetists." - Robert Smith, MD

Dr. Shafford and anesthetized lion In-clinic anesthetic management is available for patients requiring the intensive care of a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist. Such patients might include those suffering from debilitating disease or undergoing procedures with increased risk of anesthetic complications. While Dr. Shafford attends to the anesthetized patient, you and your staff can spend more time focusing on the procedure at hand. Owners concerned about anesthesia and pain management for their pets are often reassured by having an anesthesiologist working with their veterinarian. Client education and follow-up are an integral part of our patient care service. Patient care can be arranged on an intermittent case-by-case basis or on a more regular schedule.

Anesthetic management by Veterinary Anesthesia Specialists involves:

Review of case history, diagnostic results and patient evaluation
Request for additional diagnostics if necessary to detail physiological status
Preparation of an individualized anesthesia plan to minimize risk of complications
Consultation with the pet owner to address their concerns
Direct management and monitoring of anesthesia and pain management on the day of the procedure. Dr. Shafford provides her own equipment, including a state-of-the-art multi-parameter monitor, Doppler ultrasound monitor, anesthetic and analgesic drugs, cardiovascular support drugs and other supplies as needed
Follow-up with the referring veterinarian and pet owner to optimize case results

In addition to the provision of direct anesthetic management, Dr. Shafford offers chronic and acute pain consultation and treatment, continuing education lectures and workshops, and consultation regarding anesthesia and analgesia procedures. References are available upon request.