North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society Podcast

Don’t hold your breath - this episode has you covered! In this episode of the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society Podcast, host Dr. Bonnie Gatson in joined by anesthesiologist and owner of Tristate Veterinary Anesthesia, Dr. Elizabeth Goudie-DeAngelis. Together, they tackle the ins and outs of anesthetizing dogs and cats in respiratory distress - covering stabilization, airway management, and recovery tips to help you breathe easier in a crisis. Tune in and inhale some practical pearls that will help you exhale with confidence the next time you're faced with a respiratory emergency.
For more details about references mentioned in this episode:
High risk of anesthetizing brachycephalic dogs
The success of implementing a standardized anesthesia protocol for brachycephalic patients
The use of high doses of metoclopramide to reduce the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux during general anesthesia
The pharmacokinetics and efficacy of rectally administered trazodone
The use of nebulized epinephrine to reduce the severity of brachycephalic airway syndrome
If you like what you hear, we have a couple of favors to ask of you:
Consider becoming a subscriber to the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society (NAVAS) to access even more anesthesia and analgesia educational and RACE-approved CE content. NAVAS helps veterinary professionals and caregivers advance and improve the safe administration of anesthesia and analgesia to all animals, through development of standards consistent with recent findings documented in high quality basic and clinical scientific publications and texts.
Spread the word. Share our podcast on your socials or a discussion forum. That would really help us achieve our mission: Reduce mortality and morbidity in veterinary patients undergoing sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia through high-quality, peer-reviewed education.
Thank you to our sponsor, Dechra - learn more about the pharmaceutical products Dechra has to offer veterinary professionals, such as Zenalpha.
If you have questions about this episode or want to suggest topics for future episodes, reach out to the producers at [email protected].
All opinions stated by the host and their guests are theirs alone and do not represent the thoughts or opinions of any corporation, university, or other business or governmental entity.

In this episode of the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society Podcast, host Dr. Bonnie Gatson is joined by veterinary anesthesiologist, Dr. Gianluca Bini, to explore the complexities of anesthetizing dogs and cats with intracranial disease and seizure disorders. Together, they discuss key physiologic considerations to know before anesthetizing any patient with a brain disorder, including the interrelation between cerebral perfusion and intracranial pressure and factors that can alter this crucial relationship.
From managing intracranial pressure to choosing the right drugs when the brain’s already a bit on edge, they’ll cover the critical considerations that keep these cases from becoming true cranial chaos. Dr. Bini, owner of SafePetAnesthesia LLC and Assistant Professor of Anesthesia and Analgesia at Oklahoma State University, brings his signature mix of brainpower and practical know-how to the table. With experience in both academic and clinical practice, plus a passion for keeping anesthesia safe, he’s the perfect guest to help us navigate the grey matter of navigating the challenges of anesthetizing neurologically compromised patients.
If you like what you hear, we have a couple of favors to ask of you:
Consider becoming a subscriber to the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society (NAVAS) to access even more anesthesia and analgesia educational and RACE-approved CE content. NAVAS helps veterinary professionals and caregivers advance and improve the safe administration of anesthesia and analgesia to all animals, through development of standards consistent with recent findings documented in high quality basic and clinical scientific publications and texts.
Spread the word. Share our podcast on your socials or a discussion forum. That would really help us achieve our mission: Reduce mortality and morbidity in veterinary patients undergoing sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia through high-quality, peer-reviewed education.
Thank you to our sponsor, Dechra - learn more about the pharmaceutical products Dechra has to offer veterinary professionals, such as Zenalpha.
If you have questions about this episode or want to suggest topics for future episodes, reach out to the producers at [email protected].
All opinions stated by the host and their guests are theirs alone and do not represent the thoughts or opinions of any corporation, university, or other business or governmental entity.

Welcome back, gas passers! It’s time to pick up right where we left off—because your heart (and your patients’) can’t afford to miss part two of our special cardiac anesthesia series on the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society Podcast!
Host Dr. Bonnie Gatson returns with the fabulous Dr. Carolyn McKune of Mythos Veterinary LLC to continue our journey into the nuanced world of anesthetizing dogs and cats with cardiac disease. Now that we’ve covered the pathophysiology and prep in our first episode, it’s time to talk protocols: how do we tailor anesthetic plans for patients with mitral valve disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? What intraoperative monitoring really matters? And how do we handle those dreaded hypotensive or arrhythmogenic moments? This episode is guaranteed to provide some heartfelt guidance on tackling anesthetic management for these commonly seen, but nevertheless challenging patients.
If you like what you hear, we have a couple of favors to ask of you:
Become a member of NAVAS for access to more anesthesia and analgesia educational and RACE-approved CE content.
Register for the Live Online Fireside Chat #16 - Non-Invasive Blood Pressure: To Trust or Not To Trust. FREE for NAVAS members happening on Wednesday, June 18th at 7pm EST.
The North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society (NAVAS) helps veterinary professionals and caregivers advance and improve the safe administration of anesthesia and analgesia to all animals, through development of standards consistent with recent findings documented in high quality basic and clinical scientific publications and texts.
Spread the word. Share our podcast on your socials or a discussion forum. That would really help us achieve our mission: Reduce mortality and morbidity in veterinary patients undergoing sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia through high-quality, peer-reviewed education.
Thank you to our sponsor, Dechra - learn more about the pharmaceutical products Dechra has to offer veterinary professionals, such as Zenalpha.
If you have questions about this episode or want to suggest topics for future episodes, reach out to the producers at [email protected].
All opinions stated by the host and their guests are theirs alone and do not represent the thoughts or opinions of any corporation, university, or other business or governmental entity.

Get ready to follow your heart straight into another fantastic episode of the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society Podcast! Host Dr. Bonnie Gatson is back (and pumped as ever) with a special guest who truly gets to the heart of the matter—board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist and owner of veterinary consulting business Mythos Veterinary LLC (great video explanation of what Mythos does), Dr. Carolyn McKune! This month, we’re diving deep into the world of anesthetizing dogs and cats with cardiac disease, and spoiler alert: there’s too much good stuff to fit in one beat! So, we’re splitting this topic into a TWO-PART SERIES to make sure nothing important gets left in vein. In this first episode, Dr. McKune helps us lay the groundwork by walking through the pathophysiology of common degenerative cardiac diseases seen in dogs and cats. What diagnostics will help shine a light on which anesthetic protocols are best for these patients? Which cardiac medications should be continued, and which should be left out prior to general anesthesia? If these are questions pique your interest, then this episode is sure to get your blood flowing!
Part two of this special episode on anesthetizing dogs and cats with degenerative cardiac disease will air the week of June 15th, so stay tuned!
If you like what you hear, we have a couple of favors to ask of you:
Thank you for the FANTASTIC turnout at the NAVAS Virtual Spring Symposium. If you enjoyed the educational content of the symposium, consider becoming a subscriber to NAVAS to access even more anesthesia and analgesia educational and RACE-approved CE content. When you become a subscriber to NAVAS, you'll have access to videos of all the sessions from the 2025 Annual Spring Symposium, as well as, all the other session videos from all 5 years NAVAS has presented the symposium. You can also have access to RACE-approved CE credits after you take a 5 question quiz after watching the videos.
Spread the word. Share our podcast on your socials or a discussion forum. That would really help us achieve our mission: Reduce mortality and morbidity in veterinary patients undergoing sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia through high-quality, peer-reviewed education.
Thank you to our sponsor, Dechra - learn more about the pharmaceutical products Dechra has to offer veterinary professionals, such as Zenalpha.
If you have questions about this episode or want to suggest topics for future episodes, reach out to the producers at [email protected].
All opinions stated by the host and their guests are theirs alone and do not represent the thoughts or opinions of any corporation, university, or other business or governmental entity.

Anesthesia is a vital part of veterinary care—it’s what makes lifesaving and life-improving procedures possible for our patients. But for many pet owners, the thought of anesthesia can be downright nerve-wracking. From easing general worries and tackling tough cost conversations to navigating the emotional challenges of unexpected complications, one thing is clear: compassionate, honest communication makes all the difference.
In this episode of the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society (NAVAS) Podcast, host Dr. Bonnie Gatson is joined by returning guest and communication pro Dr. Erik Hofmeister to explore the do’s, don’ts, and definitely-don’t-say-thats of discussing anesthetic risk with clients. From setting expectations to managing risk-averse pet parents, and navigating the emotional terrain of adverse events, we’re covering it all—with plenty of practical tips along the way. Whether you feel like a seasoned orator or you're just trying to survive conversations without sweating through your scrubs, this episode is sure to provide helpful pointers for communicating effectively about anesthesia to your clients with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
If you like what you hear, we have a couple of favors to ask of you:
Become a member of NAVAS for access to more anesthesia and analgesia educational and RACE-approved CE content. The NAVAS Virtual Spring Symposium will be held on May 3-4, 2025. Registration for the event is open now.
Spread the word. Share our podcast on your socials or a discussion forum. That would really help us achieve our mission: Reduce mortality and morbidity in veterinary patients undergoing sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia through high-quality, peer-reviewed education.
Thank you to our sponsor, Dechra - learn more about the pharmaceutical products Dechra has to offer veterinary professionals, such as Zenalpha.
If you have questions about this episode or want to suggest topics for future episodes, reach out to the producers at [email protected].
All opinions stated by the host and their guests are theirs alone and do not represent the thoughts or opinions of any corporation, university, or other business or governmental entity.