Karingal Vet Hospital

328 Cranbourne Road, Frankston, VIC, 3199

P: (03) 9789 3444

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Intravenous Fluids

Despite general anaesthesia being a common procedure that is performed in veterinary practices every day it is not without risks. At Karingal Veterinary Hospital and Ballam Park Veterinary Clinic we endeavour to make every anaesthetic event as safe as possible. For this reason we recommend that all pets that are to undergo general anaesthesia are given intravenous fluids.

Why are Intravenous Fluids Necessary?

There are a number of important reasons why we recommend intravenous fluids during general anaesthesia.

When intravenous fluids are given to your pet they are done so through a catheter placed in one of your pet’s veins in its leg. Having this catheter in place means our veterinary team has immediate access to your pet’s circulatory system. In the event of a problem emergency medications can be given immediately into the bloodstream and therefore act quickly to alleviate the problem.

Animals under general anaesthesia will, in most cases, suffer from low blood pressure. This is due the anaesthetic drugs they have received and in some cases the position they are placed in for the surgery to be performed e.g. on their back as is the case for spays and castrations. Low blood pressure results in decreased circulation to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys and brain. Obviously this is something that should be avoided. The provision of intravenous fluids reduces the effects of low blood pressure and many cases prevents it from occurring altogether.

When under general anaesthesia animals will lose fluid from a number of places. They continue to produce urine, there is water in the breath they expire and there is evaporation of fluid from exposed tissues during surgery. There is also the additional fluid that is lost through the loss of blood during surgery. All these fluid losses will contribute to the development of dehydration. In an awake animal these fluid losses are replaced by the animal drinking but obviously this is not possible when it is under anaesthesia. This dehydration ultimately results in a reduction in blood pressure and the effects that this causes.

Upon completion of the procedure, intravenous fluid therapy speeds the recovery process by diluting the anaesthetic agents circulating in the blood stream and by enhancing their metabolism and elimination through the liver and kidneys. Patients that receive intravenous fluid therapy generally wake up faster than those that do not.

Studies have shown that 0.9 – 2% of all patients that receive general anaesthesia will develop kidney dysfunction or failure 7-14 days after anaesthesia. This risk is almost completely eliminated in patients that receive intravenous fluid therapy. Sure, 98% of all pets will have no problem, but our veterinarian’s goal is to eliminate that unknown 2%. For these reasons, all surgery patients should receive intravenous catheterisation and fluid therapy.

How are Intravenous Fluids Administered?

All intravenous fluids are delivered using modern and accurate electronic fluid pumps. These machines mean we can delivered the appropriate amounts of fluids at the correct rates. If too much fluid is given or it is given to fast it can cause serious problems. In very small patients such as birds, rabbits and reptiles we have special intravenous syringe pumps that can accurately deliver small volumes of fluids.

Are Intravenous Fluids Optional?

We believe so strongly in the benefits of intravenous fluids for our anaesthetised patients that they are compulsory for everything but de-sexing procedures. In castrations and spays we allow owners the option. Intravenous fluids for de-sexing attract an additional charge but we strongly recommend them.

 

Tessa BottomleyTessa Bottomley
01:49 08 Aug 24
Best vet!!!! Taken all our dogs and they have always done the most amazing care. From puppy to elderly dog they are just amazing and so caring
Angie GordonAngie Gordon
02:30 02 Aug 24
Wonderful caring staff who have been very understanding to me and my pets.
Emma BrownEmma Brown
01:57 30 Jul 24
Friendly, professional and outstanding with my dogs. Highly recommended.
Lynda NashLynda Nash
01:51 22 Jul 24
Great, caring staff and great service.
Always happy with the way my dog is treated here. They are excellent in handling a dog that has high anxiety too.
Aria KateAria Kate
06:38 14 Jul 24
Been taking our fur babies to the team at Karingal for 6 years now and always receive the best treatment. From the reception team, the vet nurses and vets, we always felt well cared for. They’ve always listened to our concerns thoroughly and never made us feel stupid when explaining things.I always appreciate their follow up calls to double check our pet has been feeling better and that there’s no more issues, I feel like they do genuinely care for my animals :)Also greatly appreciate the gap only claims for pet insurance, saves a lot of time and money!
John XJohn X
05:02 13 Jul 24
Excellent service and top veterinarians. Impressed by the professionalism of the staff.
Natalie JNatalie J
01:07 18 Jun 24
We took both our greyhounds here after trying a few vets in the area and they are by far the best. So knowledgeable about the breed and so understanding and patient with their anxiety about going into the consulting rooms. It’s so nice to see your pets being taken such good care of, getting lots of pats and reassurance. Thank you so much!
Cassidy CrouchCassidy Crouch
09:30 12 Apr 24
I’ve seen multiple vets and nurses at this clinic since having my first puppy, and every single person has been fantastic. They really pay attention to your concerns and are really thorough with their examinations. I appreciate that they never rush me and take their time to explain things to me. As a first time puppy owner, it’s always great to have things explained in such detail. They are all so friendly and accommodating and I would have absolutely no trouble recommending this clinic to my friends or family.
Emily SteccaEmily Stecca
10:23 18 Jan 24
The team at Karingal Vets have been so amazing helping my dog who ruptured his cruciate ligament! Could not have asked for better support during this time pre and post surgery.Puppy school was amazing too! Highly recommend ☺️
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328 Cranbourne Road, Frankston, VIC, 3199

P: (03) 9789 3444

The Karingal Veterinary Hospital is open 6 days a week.

Our hours are

- 8am-6pm Monday-Friday,
- 9am-5pm Saturday,
- Closed on Sundays,

* We are closed on public holidays.