Inhalational anaesthetic agents are routinely used in veterinary anaesthesia practices, yet their consumption contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. We conducted a 55-day observational study at a veterinary teaching hospital in Switzerland, monitoring isoflurane and sevoflurane consumption across small, equine and farm animal clinics and analysed the resulting environmental impact. Results revealed that in total, 9.36 L of isoflurane and 1.27 L of sevoflurane were used to anaesthetise 409 animals across 1,489 h. Consumption rates varied among species, with small and farm animals ranging between 8.7 and 13 mL/h, while equine anaesthesia exhibited a higher rate, 41.2 mL/h. Corresponding to 7.36 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in total environmental emissions or between 2.4 and 31.3 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per hour. Comparison to human anaesthesia settings showed comparable consumption rates to small animals, suggesting shared environmental implications, albeit on a smaller scale. This research highlights the importance of continued evaluation of veterinary anaesthesia practices to balance patient safety with environmental stewardship; potential mitigation strategies are explored and discussed.

A 4-year-old neutered female rottweiler underwent three separate anaesthetic events for the diagnosis and treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. The patient was otherwise healthy, with consistently normal pre-anaesthetic electrolyte values. However, during the second anaesthetic procedure, the patient developed severe hyperkalaemia with life-threatening cardiovascular compromise. Prompt treatment led to rapid normalisation of plasma potassium levels and resolution of cardiac abnormalities. This case highlights the need for further research to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this rare but serious complication. Clinicians should remain vigilant, as intra-anaesthetic hyperkalaemia, though uncommon, can be fatal. While the condition has been historically associated with greyhounds, recently reported cases in rottweilers may warrant similar concern.

Background: Wild and captive European moose ( Alces alces alces ) are routinely anesthetized with drug combinations including alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists, dissociative anesthetics, and opioids. Reportedly, severe respiratory depression, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, and hypoxemia are common complications in this species, requiring perianesthetic oxygen supplementation as key treatment, athough high flow rates can exacerbate respiratory acidosis. Salbutamol is a β ₂ -adrenoceptor agonist effective in alleviating V/Q mismatch and hypoxemia in anesthetized horses when administered via endotracheal tube. Administration of salbutamol could elicit similar effects in anesthetized moose, improving animal welfare and perhaps reducing or replacing the supplemental oxygen requirements. Case presentation: Three healthy captive moose (two juveniles, male and female, and one adult male) underwent four anesthetic events for routine zoo health assessments. One juvenile was anesthetized again after 15 days and served as its own control. Moose were anesthetized with medetomidine (0.05–0.08 mg kg ⁻¹ ), ketamine (1.7–2.8 mg kg ⁻¹ ), and butorphanol (0.04–0.07 mg kg ⁻¹ ) intramuscularly (IM). Intranasal oxygen (1 L min ⁻¹ 100 kg ⁻¹ ) was administered, and they were allocated to receive either 10 mL saline (control) or aerosolized salbutamol. Salbutamol was administered incrementally at 200, 400 and 800 µg 100 kg ⁻¹ , with 10-minute monitoring intervals following each dose, using one of three methods: a spacer, an equine intranasal (IN) tube, or an equine medical mask. Invasive blood pressure, electrocardiogram, respiratory rate, SpO2, and rectal temperature were recorded every 5 min. Arterial blood gases and electrolytes were measured before oxygen supplementation and both before and 10 min after each salbutamol dose. Anesthesia was reversed with IM atipamezole (0.3–0.4 mg kg ⁻¹ ), and all moose were monitored for seven days post-anesthesia for adverse effects. All moose were hypoxemic, hypercapnic, hypertensive, and tachypneic. No hypotension or hypokalemia occurred. PaO₂ increased in all individuals, with no consistent difference between treatment and control. The largest PaO₂ increase occurred in the moose receiving salbutamol via the IN tube. Other physiological variables remained stable. Recoveries were uneventful, with no adverse effects observed. Conclusion: Aerosolized salbutamol was well tolerated, but did not provide a clear benefit for hypoxemia compared to placebo. Further studies with higher salbutamol doses, alternative delivery routes, or modified anesthetic protocols are recommended.

Inhalational anaesthetics such as isoflurane and sevoflurane are widely used in veterinary medicine, but are potent greenhouse gases that contribute substantially to climate change. Low-flow anaesthetic techniques are recommended to minimise their environmental impact, yet their adoption in veterinary practice remains uncertain. This study evaluated the environmental benefits of implementing a standardised low-flow anaesthesia protocol at a veterinary teaching hospital as part of a sustainability initiative. Anaesthetic records from 120 procedures before and 120 after the intervention were analysed to compare FGF rates and volatile agent use during the maintenance phase. The intervention included staff education, email correspondence, visual aids, and a standardised low-flow protocol. Post-intervention, mean FGF decreased by 52% (from 1.27 to 0.61 L/min), corresponding to a proportional 52% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (from 4.24 to 2.03 kg CO ₂ e/h). This equated to a decrease in average car mileage emissions from 31.65 to 15.17 km driven per hour of anaesthesia. Survey responses from anaesthesia staff ( n = 21) indicated strong support for the protocol. Targeted education and standardised protocols can meaningfully reduce inhalant use and emissions in veterinary anaesthesia. Broader adoption of similar initiatives could yield considerable environmental benefits across the veterinary profession.

Continuous extradural infusions (CEIs) provide sustained analgesia, avoiding fluctuations seen with bolus administrations. An extradural catheter was placed in a cat with severe abdominal trauma following a vehicular accident. To provide sustained pain relief, a CEI of 0.5% ropivacaine at 0.18 mg/kg/h or 0.036 mL/kg/h was initiated, resulting in improved analgesia, as shown by lower scores on both the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) and the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale-Feline (CMPS-Feline). During treatment, the cat developed hypersalivation, which persisted after catheter removal at 72 h. Eventually, the cat’s condition deteriorated, with signs of sepsis leading to euthanasia due to a poor prognosis. Potential contributors to the cat’s decline included systemic infection, local anaesthetic systemic toxicity, or opioid-related effects. This report describes the placement of an extradural catheter in a cat, highlighting the potential of CEI in feline pain management while emphasising the need for further research on its pharmacokinetics and safety.