Anaesthesia and pain management

We have a team of vets who specialise in large animal anaesthesia, providing a vital service within the hospital. We are also one of the few centres in the UK to run a large animal veterinary anaesthesia residency training programme.

Specialist expertise 

Our team are led by Diplomates of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (ECVAA). They provide a wealth of knowledge in anaesthesia, pain management and critical care across a variety of different animal species. Their expertise helps to ensure the best possible care and safety of horses and other animals.

General anaesthesia

We have two extensively equipped operating theatres and four anaesthetic induction/recovery boxes. This enables the team to manage multiple cases a day.

Horses may be undergoing emergency or elective surgery for a variety of conditions that require general anaesthetic, including advanced diagnostic imaging, complex cardiac or other non-surgical treatments.

Each operating theatre is fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment including:

• Anaesthetic multi-parameter monitors incorporating CG, pulse oximetry, capnography and blood pressure monitoring
• Ventilators which are capable of advanced ventilation strategies
• Blood gas and acid base monitoring
• Nerve stimulation and neuro-muscular blocking monitoring devices.

All horses are individually managed by our anaesthetists throughout the entire anaesthetic period, from pre-anaesthetic examination and preparation, surgery and the recovery period.

Our induction and recovery boxes are equipped with advanced facilities, such as swing gates and rope-assisted recovery systems alongside video surveillance.

All horses are assessed individually to determine the safest anaesthetic plan, including induction and recovery techniques. The anaesthesia team are always happy to discuss any concerns or questions that owners may have.

Standing surgery 

Many surgical procedures are also performed standing under sedation and locoregional anaesthesia. The innovative use of cutting-edge ultrasound guided local anaesthetic techniques allows us to perform a greater number of surgical procedures under these conditions, therefore avoiding the associated risks with general anaesthesia in horses. 

Critical care

As part of our multidisciplinary approach, our anaesthesia team also contributes to the provision of critical care for our sickest patients, including advanced monitoring of critically ill horses and foals, fluid therapy including plasma, and blood transfusions as well as advanced pain management techniques. 

Pain clinic

We have 4 ECVAA diplomates, with a large animal bias, working at the hospital. We are proud to offer advanced pain management services at the hospital, including an equine pain clinic.