AVTAA VETERINARY TECHNICIAN SPECIALTY
EXAMINATION IN ANESTHESIA & ANALGESIA
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
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SECTION 1: PATIENT ASSESSMENT & PREANESTHETIC PLANNING
1. A 12-year-old Maine Coon cat presents for a dental procedure. The owner
reports the cat has been drinking more water and urinating more frequently
over the past month. Preoperative bloodwork reveals a BUN of 48 mg/dL and
creatinine of 3.5 mg/dL. What ASA physical status classification is MOST
appropriate for this patient?
A) ASA II - Mild systemic disease
B) ASA III - Severe systemic disease that is not life-threatening
C) ASA IV - Severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
D) ASA V - Moribund patient not expected to survive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic kidney disease with significant azotemia (creatinine >3.0
mg/dL) represents severe systemic disease that limits the patient's ability to
tolerate anesthesia but is not immediately life-threatening with proper
management. This patient would be classified as ASA III, requiring careful fluid
management, avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs, and close monitoring of blood
pressure to maintain renal perfusion .
,2. A healthy 4-year-old Golden Retriever is scheduled for an elective
ovariohysterectomy. According to current fasting guidelines, what is the
appropriate food and water restriction period for this patient?
A) Withhold food for 2-4 hours and water for 1 hour
B) Withhold food for 6-8 hours and water for 2-4 hours
C) Withhold food for 10-12 hours and water for 8 hours
D) No fasting is required for healthy dogs
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Current anesthesia guidelines recommend withholding food for 6-8
hours and water for 2-4 hours in healthy adult dogs. This balance reduces the risk
of aspiration pneumonitis while preventing dehydration and hypoglycemia.
Extended fasting (>12 hours) is no longer recommended as it can cause stress,
dehydration, and hypotension .
3. A 7-year-old Dachshund presents with acute paraplegia and is scheduled for
hemilaminectomy. The dog is otherwise healthy with normal bloodwork. How
should this patient's ASA status be classified?
A) ASA I
B) ASA II
C) ASA III
D) ASA IV
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This patient has a localized neurological condition (acute paraplegia)
that does not affect major organ systems. While the condition is serious, it does
not represent systemic disease affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, or
hepatic systems. The patient would be classified as ASA II - mild systemic disease .
,4. Which of the following is the MOST important factor in determining a
patient's ability to metabolize and eliminate injectable anesthetic drugs?
A) Patient's age
B) Patient's weight
C) Hepatic and renal function
D) Body condition score
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The liver and kidneys are the primary organs responsible for drug
metabolism and elimination. Impaired hepatic or renal function significantly
prolongs drug effects and recovery times. Age and weight affect drug dosing but
are less critical than organ function in determining metabolic capacity .
5. A 9-year-old Boxer presents for a mass removal. On preanesthetic
examination, you note a grade III/VI systolic heart murmur. The owner reports
the dog has been coughing at night and seems to tire easily on walks. What is
the MOST appropriate next step?
A) Proceed with premedication using acepromazine and butorphanol
B) Recommend echocardiography and thoracic radiographs before anesthesia
C) Calculate ASA status as ASA II and proceed
D) Administer furosemide preoperatively
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This patient shows clinical signs of cardiac disease (murmur, coughing,
exercise intolerance) that could indicate congestive heart failure or other
significant cardiac pathology. Preanesthetic cardiac evaluation with
echocardiography and thoracic radiographs is essential to characterize the
disease, guide anesthetic management, and determine appropriate ASA
classification .
, 6. What is the normal resting respiratory rate for an adult cat?
A) 10-20 breaths per minute
B) 20-30 breaths per minute
C) 30-40 breaths per minute
D) 40-50 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The normal resting respiratory rate for an adult cat ranges from 20-30
breaths per minute. Tachypnea (>40 breaths/min) may indicate pain, fever,
respiratory disease, or distress, while bradypnea (<16 breaths/min) may indicate
central nervous system depression, hypothermia, or drug effects .
7. A 5-kg cat presents for a routine spay. The mucous membranes are pale, and
capillary refill time is 3 seconds. The owner reports the cat has been lethargic
and not eating well. What is the MOST appropriate action before proceeding
with anesthesia?
A) Proceed with surgery as scheduled
B) Perform a complete blood count and biochemistry panel
C) Administer IV fluids and proceed
D) Cancel surgery and refer for emergency evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pale mucous membranes with prolonged capillary refill time indicate
potential anemia, hypovolemia, or poor perfusion. A complete blood count and
biochemistry panel are essential to evaluate for anemia, dehydration, or
underlying disease before proceeding with anesthesia. Surgery should not proceed
without understanding the cause of these abnormalities .
EXAMINATION IN ANESTHESIA & ANALGESIA
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
SECTION 1: PATIENT ASSESSMENT & PREANESTHETIC PLANNING
1. A 12-year-old Maine Coon cat presents for a dental procedure. The owner
reports the cat has been drinking more water and urinating more frequently
over the past month. Preoperative bloodwork reveals a BUN of 48 mg/dL and
creatinine of 3.5 mg/dL. What ASA physical status classification is MOST
appropriate for this patient?
A) ASA II - Mild systemic disease
B) ASA III - Severe systemic disease that is not life-threatening
C) ASA IV - Severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
D) ASA V - Moribund patient not expected to survive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic kidney disease with significant azotemia (creatinine >3.0
mg/dL) represents severe systemic disease that limits the patient's ability to
tolerate anesthesia but is not immediately life-threatening with proper
management. This patient would be classified as ASA III, requiring careful fluid
management, avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs, and close monitoring of blood
pressure to maintain renal perfusion .
,2. A healthy 4-year-old Golden Retriever is scheduled for an elective
ovariohysterectomy. According to current fasting guidelines, what is the
appropriate food and water restriction period for this patient?
A) Withhold food for 2-4 hours and water for 1 hour
B) Withhold food for 6-8 hours and water for 2-4 hours
C) Withhold food for 10-12 hours and water for 8 hours
D) No fasting is required for healthy dogs
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Current anesthesia guidelines recommend withholding food for 6-8
hours and water for 2-4 hours in healthy adult dogs. This balance reduces the risk
of aspiration pneumonitis while preventing dehydration and hypoglycemia.
Extended fasting (>12 hours) is no longer recommended as it can cause stress,
dehydration, and hypotension .
3. A 7-year-old Dachshund presents with acute paraplegia and is scheduled for
hemilaminectomy. The dog is otherwise healthy with normal bloodwork. How
should this patient's ASA status be classified?
A) ASA I
B) ASA II
C) ASA III
D) ASA IV
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This patient has a localized neurological condition (acute paraplegia)
that does not affect major organ systems. While the condition is serious, it does
not represent systemic disease affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, or
hepatic systems. The patient would be classified as ASA II - mild systemic disease .
,4. Which of the following is the MOST important factor in determining a
patient's ability to metabolize and eliminate injectable anesthetic drugs?
A) Patient's age
B) Patient's weight
C) Hepatic and renal function
D) Body condition score
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The liver and kidneys are the primary organs responsible for drug
metabolism and elimination. Impaired hepatic or renal function significantly
prolongs drug effects and recovery times. Age and weight affect drug dosing but
are less critical than organ function in determining metabolic capacity .
5. A 9-year-old Boxer presents for a mass removal. On preanesthetic
examination, you note a grade III/VI systolic heart murmur. The owner reports
the dog has been coughing at night and seems to tire easily on walks. What is
the MOST appropriate next step?
A) Proceed with premedication using acepromazine and butorphanol
B) Recommend echocardiography and thoracic radiographs before anesthesia
C) Calculate ASA status as ASA II and proceed
D) Administer furosemide preoperatively
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This patient shows clinical signs of cardiac disease (murmur, coughing,
exercise intolerance) that could indicate congestive heart failure or other
significant cardiac pathology. Preanesthetic cardiac evaluation with
echocardiography and thoracic radiographs is essential to characterize the
disease, guide anesthetic management, and determine appropriate ASA
classification .
, 6. What is the normal resting respiratory rate for an adult cat?
A) 10-20 breaths per minute
B) 20-30 breaths per minute
C) 30-40 breaths per minute
D) 40-50 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The normal resting respiratory rate for an adult cat ranges from 20-30
breaths per minute. Tachypnea (>40 breaths/min) may indicate pain, fever,
respiratory disease, or distress, while bradypnea (<16 breaths/min) may indicate
central nervous system depression, hypothermia, or drug effects .
7. A 5-kg cat presents for a routine spay. The mucous membranes are pale, and
capillary refill time is 3 seconds. The owner reports the cat has been lethargic
and not eating well. What is the MOST appropriate action before proceeding
with anesthesia?
A) Proceed with surgery as scheduled
B) Perform a complete blood count and biochemistry panel
C) Administer IV fluids and proceed
D) Cancel surgery and refer for emergency evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pale mucous membranes with prolonged capillary refill time indicate
potential anemia, hypovolemia, or poor perfusion. A complete blood count and
biochemistry panel are essential to evaluate for anemia, dehydration, or
underlying disease before proceeding with anesthesia. Surgery should not proceed
without understanding the cause of these abnormalities .
