Sedation and anesthesia: what's the difference?

In response to a pain impulse received from the injured area, there is an awareness of pain in the animal's cerebral cortex. Any type of anesthesia is a medical intervention in the body that prevents pain stress. The desired effect is achieved by blocking the nerve endings.

Pet owners are often frightened when they learn that a pet will have a procedure or surgery under sedation or anesthesia. Fear is mainly provoked by rumors about these necessary measures and insufficient knowledge about them. Both methods are used in Animal Clinic. That is why our veterinary clinic in Kyiv offers to understand how sedation differs from anesthesia. You will understand the basics from the subheadings, but if you wish, you can delve into the topic by reading the article to the end.

Sedation is a mild form of anesthesia

Sedation causes psychological relaxation, relieves fear and panic. This condition has the following features:

• The patient's consciousness is suppressed, but not turned off.
• Sensitivity is reduced.
• The function of independent breathing is preserved.

Sedation does not relieve pain, so it is often used under local anesthesia. Sedation is achieved by intravenous and inhaled drugs. The method is used in surgery, for example, for endoscopy, dentistry, as well as for examination of aggressive animals.

Anesthesia - deep anesthesia

Anesthesia or general anesthesia is a state of deep sleep, ie the patient is unconscious. This method allows our veterinarians to completely anesthetize and relax the patient: his muscles will not be tense, so the surgeon will be able to do his job competently.

Anesthesia involves the use of a set of special tested drugs and professional equipment. General anesthesia is required for complex and lengthy surgical procedures. The animal is under the close supervision of an anesthesiologist and equipment that monitors vital signs until awakening.

The type of anesthesia is chosen by our veterinarian-anesthesiologist. If it is not an emergency intervention, the pet must be examined beforehand to choose the individual dosage of anesthetics, taking into account the patient's health and the characteristics of the future procedure.