ANESTHESIOLOGY STUDY
QUESTIONS 2025 WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
tranquilization - ....ANSWER ...-a state of tranquility and calmness in which the
animal is awake, relaxed, and unconcerned about its surroundings. The animal is easily
arousable and will respond to painful stimuli.
sedation - ....ANSWER ...-more profound central nervous system depression than
tranquilization in which the animal is awake, sleepy, but still able to be aroused by
stimulation. Minor manipulations can be performed, and aggressive animals may be
easier to handle.
surgical anesthesia - ....ANSWER ...-reversible loss of sensation to all or part of the
body. Unconsciousness, analgesia, and hyporeflexia (relaxation) are characteristic of the
anesthetic state. Additionally, lack of purposeful movement and prevention of
undesirable autonomic responsiveness are desirable anesthetic characteristics.
Anesthesia is produced by the administration of drugs that depress the central and/or
peripheral nervous systems.
balanced anesthesia - ....ANSWER ...-a technique of general anesthesia based on
the concept that administration of a mixture of small amounts of several neuronal
depressants (for example, narcotics and inhalational agents) maximizes the advantages,
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 1
,but not the disadvantages of, the individual components of the mixture. (from medical-
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com)
dissociative anesthesia - ....ANSWER ...-type of general anesthesia in which the
animal is 'dissociated' from its surroundings and unaware of external stimuli. These
agents interrupt neurotransmission between the thalamocortical and limbic areas of the
CNS. The animal retains some muscle rigidity (catalepsy); open eyes with palpebral
reflexes; and somewhat intact swallowing reflexes.
What are the 5 necessary components of general anesthesia? - ....ANSWER ...--
Unconsciousness
- Amnesia
- Analgesia (more accurately antinociception)
- Immobility
- Attenuation of autonomic response to noxious stimuli
Why is analgesia NOT a necessary component of general anesthesia? -
....ANSWER ...-because when an animal is anesthetized it is unconscious and is
therefore it cannot feel pain.
An animal in Stage 2 would show what kind of signs? Is this animal consciously aware of
its environment? - ....ANSWER ...-- Delirium or involuntary excitement
- No
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory
rate increase. Is this dog:
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 2
,a) awake and feeling pain? - ....ANSWER ...-No
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory
rate increase. Is this dog: showing signs of autonomic stimulation? -
....ANSWER ...-Yes
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory
rate increase. Is this dog: purposefully responding to inadequate anesthesia? -
....ANSWER ...-No
Medicine wishes to "sedate" a dog for percutaneous liver biopsy. Will sedation be
sufficient to perform this procedure? Why or why not? - ....ANSWER ...-- No
because a sedated animal is awake and will still be able to be aroused by this type of
procedure
- Not considered a minor manipulation, could be painful or uncomfortable past the point
tolerated by a sedated animal
When queried further, Medicine would prefer the dog in (5) to be unconscious, relaxed,
analgesic, and nonresponsive to surgical stimulation. What specific term would best
describe their request? - ....ANSWER ...-General anesthesia
What is the minimum amount of laboratory data that should be obtained before
anesthetizing a young, healthy animal? Why is this information important? -
....ANSWER ...-- Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Total Protein (TP)
- Prognostic indicators for how this patient will do under anesthesia
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 3
, Give an example of a type of patient that would be classified with each of the ASA
physical status classes I through V. - ....ANSWER ...-- I- healthy puppy
undergoing an OHE
- II- mildly obese dog undergoing an uncomplicated ACL repair
- III- Dog undergoing surgery for a HBC
- IV- great dane undergoing surgery for a GDV
- V- severe HBC with poor prognosis for surviving past the next 24 hours
What types of abnormalities should be corrected prior to the administration of anesthetic
drugs? Explain why. - ....ANSWER ...-- Stabilize the patient preoperatively: This
may involve parenteral fluid administration, antibiotics, warmth, pain control, etc
- Corrected in order to minimize surgical and anesthetic risk
- These are all areas that are likely to be influenced by anesthetic drugs so you want
them as close to normal as possible before you administer drugs that may alter these
parameters
What are the minimum physical exam findings that the anesthetist should be familiar
with before administering anesthetic drugs? - ....ANSWER ...-- auscultate the heart
and lungs
- note any abnormal cardiac rhythms or murmurs
- palpate a peripheral pulse and record heart rate
- note any abnormal lung sounds, record respiratory rate
- note the color of the mucous membranes and the capillary refill time
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 4
QUESTIONS 2025 WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
tranquilization - ....ANSWER ...-a state of tranquility and calmness in which the
animal is awake, relaxed, and unconcerned about its surroundings. The animal is easily
arousable and will respond to painful stimuli.
sedation - ....ANSWER ...-more profound central nervous system depression than
tranquilization in which the animal is awake, sleepy, but still able to be aroused by
stimulation. Minor manipulations can be performed, and aggressive animals may be
easier to handle.
surgical anesthesia - ....ANSWER ...-reversible loss of sensation to all or part of the
body. Unconsciousness, analgesia, and hyporeflexia (relaxation) are characteristic of the
anesthetic state. Additionally, lack of purposeful movement and prevention of
undesirable autonomic responsiveness are desirable anesthetic characteristics.
Anesthesia is produced by the administration of drugs that depress the central and/or
peripheral nervous systems.
balanced anesthesia - ....ANSWER ...-a technique of general anesthesia based on
the concept that administration of a mixture of small amounts of several neuronal
depressants (for example, narcotics and inhalational agents) maximizes the advantages,
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 1
,but not the disadvantages of, the individual components of the mixture. (from medical-
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com)
dissociative anesthesia - ....ANSWER ...-type of general anesthesia in which the
animal is 'dissociated' from its surroundings and unaware of external stimuli. These
agents interrupt neurotransmission between the thalamocortical and limbic areas of the
CNS. The animal retains some muscle rigidity (catalepsy); open eyes with palpebral
reflexes; and somewhat intact swallowing reflexes.
What are the 5 necessary components of general anesthesia? - ....ANSWER ...--
Unconsciousness
- Amnesia
- Analgesia (more accurately antinociception)
- Immobility
- Attenuation of autonomic response to noxious stimuli
Why is analgesia NOT a necessary component of general anesthesia? -
....ANSWER ...-because when an animal is anesthetized it is unconscious and is
therefore it cannot feel pain.
An animal in Stage 2 would show what kind of signs? Is this animal consciously aware of
its environment? - ....ANSWER ...-- Delirium or involuntary excitement
- No
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory
rate increase. Is this dog:
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 2
,a) awake and feeling pain? - ....ANSWER ...-No
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory
rate increase. Is this dog: showing signs of autonomic stimulation? -
....ANSWER ...-Yes
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory
rate increase. Is this dog: purposefully responding to inadequate anesthesia? -
....ANSWER ...-No
Medicine wishes to "sedate" a dog for percutaneous liver biopsy. Will sedation be
sufficient to perform this procedure? Why or why not? - ....ANSWER ...-- No
because a sedated animal is awake and will still be able to be aroused by this type of
procedure
- Not considered a minor manipulation, could be painful or uncomfortable past the point
tolerated by a sedated animal
When queried further, Medicine would prefer the dog in (5) to be unconscious, relaxed,
analgesic, and nonresponsive to surgical stimulation. What specific term would best
describe their request? - ....ANSWER ...-General anesthesia
What is the minimum amount of laboratory data that should be obtained before
anesthetizing a young, healthy animal? Why is this information important? -
....ANSWER ...-- Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Total Protein (TP)
- Prognostic indicators for how this patient will do under anesthesia
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 3
, Give an example of a type of patient that would be classified with each of the ASA
physical status classes I through V. - ....ANSWER ...-- I- healthy puppy
undergoing an OHE
- II- mildly obese dog undergoing an uncomplicated ACL repair
- III- Dog undergoing surgery for a HBC
- IV- great dane undergoing surgery for a GDV
- V- severe HBC with poor prognosis for surviving past the next 24 hours
What types of abnormalities should be corrected prior to the administration of anesthetic
drugs? Explain why. - ....ANSWER ...-- Stabilize the patient preoperatively: This
may involve parenteral fluid administration, antibiotics, warmth, pain control, etc
- Corrected in order to minimize surgical and anesthetic risk
- These are all areas that are likely to be influenced by anesthetic drugs so you want
them as close to normal as possible before you administer drugs that may alter these
parameters
What are the minimum physical exam findings that the anesthetist should be familiar
with before administering anesthetic drugs? - ....ANSWER ...-- auscultate the heart
and lungs
- note any abnormal cardiac rhythms or murmurs
- palpate a peripheral pulse and record heart rate
- note any abnormal lung sounds, record respiratory rate
- note the color of the mucous membranes and the capillary refill time
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 4
