Surgical Monitoring Devices

There is an element of risk involved in any anesthetic procedure, but close monitoring of vital signs allows veterinarians and technicians to provide your pet with the safest possible surgery. Small changes in heart or lung function are recognized and corrected quickly, before the pet is endangered. We use the following monitoring devices routinely for our surgical procedures:

ECG (or EKG) Monitor

This device measures the electrical activity of the heart through small leads attached to the pet's skin. We can monitor heart rate and rhythm, and evaluate the beats for any abnormalities.

Pulse Oximeters

Pulse Oximeters measure the amount of oxygen being carried in the blood. A sensor shines a light through the pet's lip or tongue (or any other small body part), where it can "see" the pet's pulse in the tiny blood vessels called capillaries, and calculate the oxygen content. An alarm alerts the technicians if oxygenation falls, so that they can correct the situation before any damage occurs to the pet.

Blood Pressure Monitor

This monitor measures blood pressure automatically every few minutes, using an aircuff similar to those used in human medicine. A drop in pressure triggers an alarm; IV fluid rate and anesthesia can be altered accordingly.

Doppler Blood Pressure Monitor

Another blood pressure monitor, the Doppler uses sound waves to measure systolic pressure and provides an audible pulse signal between readings.

By using one or more of these devices on every surgical patient, along with constant attendance by a trained technician, our veterinarians can promise you and your pet the safest procedure possible.

back to the tour