The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has released the profession’s first feline-specific anesthesia guidelines. According to the AAFP, a standardized, evidence-based approach for administering anesthesia helps ensure a patient’s safe and predictable perioperative response and recovery.
Empirical evidence shows that cats undergoing anesthesia have a higher mortality rate compared with dogs.
Source: DVM 360, August 9, 2018. Link.
The overarching purpose of the AAFP Anesthesia Guidelines is to make anesthesia and sedation safer for the feline patient,” says Heather O’Steen, CEO of the AAFP, in the release. “We are committed to improving the health and welfare of all cats and providing this resource to veterinary teams is an important milestone.”
INSIGHTS: Guidelines help animal health pros ensure best practices when dealing with animals. They also offer good third-party evidence when clients challenge a veterinarian’s recommended course of action.