We understand that having a pet undergo an anaesthetic can be worrying. At Bicester Vets, we’ve invested in advanced equipment, additional training and clinical expertise to provide a level of anaesthetic care that goes beyond what is routinely available in general veterinary practice.
Our priority is to make every anaesthetic as safe as possible, minimise discomfort and help every patient recover smoothly.
We have several sophisticated multiparameter monitors that allow us to continuously assess our patients’ vital signs during anaesthesia, including blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rhythm (ECG) and breathing (capnography). This helps us recognise subtle changes and respond promptly.
We’ve also invested in an advanced anaesthetic machine with a built-in ventilator, allowing us to support or control a patient’s breathing when necessary, including during complex procedures such as open-chest surgery.
This equipment is particularly valuable when caring for older, unwell or higher-risk patients.
Anaesthetic safety is something we take extremely seriously. Our vets and nurses regularly review techniques, discuss challenging cases and carefully plan anaesthetics to suit each individual patient.
Cliff is an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Anaesthesia and holds the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia. His additional expertise helps guide our approach to patient safety, particularly in more complex cases.
Although no anaesthetic is entirely risk-free, our commitment to careful preparation, advanced monitoring and attentive nursing helps us minimise those risks.
Keeping patients comfortable is just as important as keeping them safe.
We use a wide range of pain-relieving medications and local anaesthetic techniques, including nerve blocks that numb specific areas of the body. For certain orthopaedic procedures, such as knee surgery, we also use advanced ultrasound-guided nerve blocks for precise, targeted pain relief.
Our veterinary nurse Danni has undertaken additional training in local anaesthetic techniques and regularly contributes to this aspect of patient care.
All our nurses are trained in pain assessment and scoring, helping them recognise discomfort and ensure each patient receives appropriate pain relief throughout their recovery.
We’re equally passionate about helping pets living with chronic pain, including arthritis, spinal conditions and long-standing ear disease.
Chronic pain can be complex, so we take an individual, multimodal approach combining medication, lifestyle advice and supportive therapies. These include therapeutic laser treatment and developing physiotherapy services, with our veterinary nurse Sophie currently undertaking further qualifications in this area.
Whether your pet needs a routine procedure, complex surgery or ongoing pain management, our aim is always the same: exceptional care, the greatest possible comfort and the best possible outcome.
