OVC 2024 – Anaesthesia of Dogs & Cats with Cardiac Disease

The sedation or anaesthesia of patients with cardiac disease often poses a challenge to veterinarians. Patients with cardiovascular dysfunction, have a significantly higher risk of morbidity and mortality following anaesthesia or sedation due to decreased physiological reserves and inability to adequately compensate for alterations in heart rate, preload, afterload, and cardiac output. Additionally, there is a greater chance of decompensation if these animals are exposed to sudden stressful conditions or increased metabolic demand (e.g., anxiety, surgery, pain). A reduced cardiovascular reserve may also predispose to a greater risk of fluid-overload when intravenous fluids are used to compensate for the vasodilating effects of anaesthetic agents, further adding to the complexity associated with the management of these cases. This session presents strategies for the sedation and anaesthetic management of patients with specific cardiovascular diseases commonly seen in veterinary practice.