Quick sedation strategies gain attention for dogs and cats

CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: A new “How Do You Treat That?” episode from Dr. Andy Roark spotlights a familiar clinical challenge: how to sedate dogs and cats for short procedures without automatically moving to full-day anesthesia. In the March 17 episode, Tasha McNerney, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), discusses reversible sedation protocols, multimodal analgesia, and the use of opioids, dexmedetomidine, ketamine in selected cases, and local or regional anesthesia to support brief procedures such as radiographs, wound care, and diagnostics. The episode also emphasizes feline-specific strategies and airway protection as part of safer, more efficient sedation planning. (drandyroark.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the conversation reflects a broader shift away from “all or nothing” thinking on restraint versus general anesthesia. Current AAHA guidance frames sedation and anesthesia as a continuum, and supports multimodal plans that pair anxiolysis, analgesia, and local blocks to reduce stress, improve handling safety, and potentially lower anesthetic burden for appropriate patients. That’s especially relevant as clinics try to deliver Fear Free or cat-friendly care while still moving efficiently through minor but painful or stressful procedures. It also connects to wider concerns in practice culture: Dr. Roark’s recent podcast discussions on managing lunging, high-FAS dogs and on technician moral distress both underscore that escalating restraint can affect not just patient welfare, but staff safety and team wellbeing. (aaha.org)

What to watch: Expect continued interest in clinic-ready protocols that combine pre-visit pharmaceuticals, reversible in-hospital sedation, local anesthesia, and lower-stress handling plans for short, high-friction appointments in dogs and cats—especially as practices look for alternatives to forcing procedures on fearful or reactive patients. (aaha.org)