Anaesthetist Support for Procedures

Anaesthesia is literally a time between life and death and at Southern Cross Vet, we focus on providing the highest experience of safety and comfort to every patient.

These days our pets are living longer and our ability to treat a broader variety of illness with advanced veterinary care is increasing. However, some patients often require a more advanced approach to their anaesthetic care.

We are proud at SCV to be at the forefront of veterinary medicine and our veterinary anaesthetist service is like no other, with an anaesthetist being available to be solely focused on the anaesthetic of your pet, enhancing your pet’s care and providing you with confidence and peace of mind that their time with us will be as safe as possible.

What is a veterinary anaesthetist?

After graduating as a veterinarian and completing a 1 year internship and a 3-4 year residency to an international level specifically in the provision of expert anaesthesia to animals, a veterinarian can become a veterinary anaesthetist.

Similar to medical anaesthetist doctors who manage the anaesthesia for people, veterinary anaesthetists are dedicated solely to providing optimal anaesthesia, safe sedation and pain management to animals undergoing surgical and diagnostic procedures.

Because animals react differently to certain procedures than humans do — in that they may not be very cooperative with diagnostic or therapeutic procedures — anaesthesia is administered in a broader range of instances, making an anesthesiologist’s job that much more important.

Why do we offer veterinary anaesthetist support?

While our general anaesthesias are safe and our track record is excellent, your pet may benefit from added care, provided by a veterinary anaesthetist. We are one of the few clinics in NSW to offer a dedicated anaesthetist, and we consider this option an important part of your informed consent.

While all SCV patients can request an anaesthetist to be present, older animals, sick animals, animals requiring advanced surgical procedures, and animals whose breed or build such as brachycephalic pets all carry higher anaesthetic risks. In some cases, utilising a veterinary anaesthetist means that a pet is able to receive treatment for which he or she may otherwise have been an unsuitable risk candidate.

Anaesthesia is a continually evolving discipline, with frequent advances in drugs and technology, and an anaesthetist monitoring your pet’s procedure offers the highest level of care and comfort and is a way to reduce the risks associated with anaesthesia as much as possible
How much does it cost? Covered by most insurance plans, our veterinary anaesthetists’ fees start at $990, but this depends on the procedure and the length of the procedure

How to book our veterinary anaesthetist for your pet’s procedure: Just mention to reception when booking that you request anaesthetist support and we will coordinate the date for you.