Quick sedation protocols get fresh attention in dogs and cats
CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: A new March 17 episode of Dr. Andy Roark’s Cone of Shame podcast, “HDYTT: Quick Sedation in Dogs and Cats,” puts a practical spotlight on a familiar clinical problem: how to sedate canine and feline patients for brief procedures without defaulting to full anesthesia. In the episode, Tasha McNerney, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), discusses reversible sedation protocols, multimodal analgesia, the use of opioids and dexmedetomidine, local anesthetic blocks, feline-specific approaches, and when ketamine may be worth adding for short diagnostics or minor procedures. The conversation is framed around healthy patients needing low-pain or no-pain interventions, but also extends to more involved short procedures — including wound management and limited surgical work in cases where time or finances may rule out full anesthesia. (drandyroark.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the discussion reflects a broader shift toward procedure-matched sedation, Fear Free handling, and faster recoveries for radiographs, wound care, and other short interventions. It also speaks to a day-to-day reality in practice: brief sedation can be a middle ground when clinics are trying to reduce stress, improve workflow, and still care for patients whose owners face financial constraints. That approach is consistent with AAHA guidance emphasizing individualized anesthetic planning, appropriate monitoring for any sedated patient, and greater use of local and regional anesthesia to reduce overall drug burden. Background literature on pre-visit pharmaceuticals also supports the use of agents such as gabapentin, trazodone, and dexmedetomidine to reduce fear and improve compliance in selected dogs and cats, though patient response remains variable. (jaaha.kglmeridian.com)
What to watch: Expect continued interest in protocols that combine reversible sedation, local blocks, and pre-visit pharmaceuticals to improve workflow, safety, and the experience for both patients and pet parents — especially for high-stress handling cases and short procedures where full anesthesia may not be practical or necessary. (drandyroark.com)