Surgical monitoring

Conscientious veterinarians have used surgical monitoring devices for many years.   Traditional devices monitor pulse or respiration, sometimes both.  With gas anesthesia this is not enough, because carbon dioxide levels can rise to life-threatening levels with little warning.  Today, progressive practices use a pulse oximeter, which  continuously  monitors the blood oxygen level.  The pulse oximeter sounds an alarm if there is even a small change from normal levels, allowing the veterinarian to respond before serious problems develop