Clinical Reference
2025 ACVAA Small Animal Anesthesia Monitoring Guidelines
The first revision in over 16 years, developed by 17 ACVAA diplomates with input from NAVAS and the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia. Evidence-based recommendations that set new standards for patient safety across all practice settings.
Six Core Categories
Key monitoring areas.
The 2025 guidelines refresh recommendations across six core monitoring categories, setting clearer expectations for every anesthetic and sedation event.
Circulation
Updated hemodynamic monitoring recommendations. Oscillometric blood pressure monitoring is the minimum standard, with Doppler as an alternative.
Oxygenation
Refined guidance on oxygenation assessment during anesthesia and sedation procedures. Pulse oximetry is a minimum monitoring standard.
Ventilation
Capnography is now the minimum monitoring standard, providing critical information on equipment integrity, respiratory gas movement, lung perfusion, and metabolic state.
Temperature
Updated thermoregulatory monitoring to prevent hypothermia and hyperthermia during anesthetic events. Temperature monitoring is now a minimum monitoring standard.
Anesthetic Depth
Guidance on assessing and maintaining appropriate anesthetic depth throughout procedures.
Neuromuscular Blockade
Substantially expanded. Neuromuscular blocking agents should not be administered without a peripheral nerve stimulator, as normal neuromuscular function cannot be determined by subjective means.
What's New
Significant updates in the 2025 revision.
A refreshed framework to improve patient safety and standardize care across every practice setting.
Tiered Recommendations
Minimum, alternative, and advanced tiers accommodate varied resources and patient risk levels across different practice settings.
Dedicated Personnel
A trained, dedicated individual must be assigned to actively monitor anesthesia—automated equipment alone is insufficient. Includes a detailed breakdown of the anesthesia care team.
Sedation-Specific Monitoring
Dedicated recommendations recognizing the continuum from conscious sedation to anesthesia. Critical physiologic abnormalities can occur even during sedation, with guidance for mild, moderate, and deep/profound sedation.
Capnography as Minimum Standard
Now a minimum monitoring requirement due to wider availability in multiparameter monitors. Essential for evaluating CPR effectiveness and detecting early signs of hypoxemia.
Cognitive Aids & Checklists
Standardized anesthesia equipment checklists, surgical safety checklists, and emergency drug dose calculations prepared in advance. Research showed an 88% reduction in equipment set-up errors when checklists were introduced.
Recovery Period Monitoring
New emphasis on monitoring during recovery, particularly in the first 3 hours post-procedure when nearly half of anesthesia-related fatalities occur. Includes standardized handoff checklists for transferring patient care.
Source & Attribution
This page provides a summary of the 2025 ACVAA Small Animal Anesthesia and Sedation Monitoring Guidelines for quick reference. The full guidelines are published as open access in Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia. For complete recommendations, refer to the official publication.
Put It Into Practice
Need help implementing the guidelines?
MACvet™ can help your team adopt the latest anesthesia monitoring standards — whether you need a consultation or hands-on training on updated protocols.