The Random Anesthesia Topic podcast

Ever wondered how a little injection near the spine can make a big difference in pain management? 💉 In this episode, our trio of veterinary anesthesiologists welcomes special guest Kristen Ward, BSN-RN, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), COO and Co-Founder of Safe Pet Anesthesia, for a deep dive into epidural anesthesia and analgesia. We explore when and why epidurals are used, the drugs and techniques involved, their benefits and potential complications, and how they fit into multimodal pain management. From practical tips to real-world experiences, this episode is packed with insights, a few laughs, and everything you wanted to know about epidurals—but were afraid to ask!

How much should we trust the veterinary literature? What happens when the evidence doesn't quite fit the patient in front of us? In this episode, our trio of veterinary anesthesiologists dives into evidence-based medicine, the strengths and limitations of veterinary research, and how to critically evaluate what a study actually tells us. We explore the challenges of small sample sizes, conflicting evidence, and translating controlled research into messy real-world clinical scenarios. Because good medicine isn't just about following the literature, it's about understanding the evidence, recognizing its limitations, and knowing how to apply it to the individual patient.

What do diabetes, endocrine disease, and electrolyte imbalances have in common? They can all make anesthesia a little more interesting! In this episode, our trio of veterinary anesthesiologists dives into the challenges of anesthetizing patients with diabetes, endocrine disorders, and abnormal electrolytes. We discuss what these conditions mean for anesthetic planning, which abnormalities should make you stop and think, and how to keep these patients stable from induction through recovery. A practical conversation about managing the metabolic curveballs that can turn a routine anesthetic into anything but routine.

Not all veterinary hospitals approach anesthesia the same way—and that can have a major impact on patient care. In this episode, our trio of veterinary anesthesiologists is joined by Dr. Natalie McShane, owner of East Side Animal Hospital, for an honest discussion about anesthesia in general practice. We explore why the level of anesthetic care can vary significantly between clinics, the challenges GPs face in providing advanced anesthesia services, and whether veterinary schools are adequately preparing new graduates for real-world anesthesia decision-making. A candid conversation about training, confidence, standards of care, and opportunities to raise the bar for patients everywhere.

What happens after the patient goes home? In this episode, our trio of veterinary anesthesiologists dives into oral pain medications, and the realities of keeping pets comfortable outside the hospital. We discuss common go-home medications, multimodal pain strategies, compliance challenges, side effects, and how treatment plans are tailored to different patients and conditions. Practical, approachable, and full of real-world insights, this episode focuses on the part of pain management owners deal with every day.