Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds

In this episode, we’re chatting with Darci Palmer, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), about a simple but powerful tool you can add to your sedation toolbox: the GV 20 acupuncture point. Darci breaks down how and why GV 20 can help take the edge off for anxious patients, support smoother sedation, and make handling easier for both patients and staff. She shares practical tips, real-life examples, and how this technique can work alongside your usual drug protocols...not replace them. If you’re curious about low-stress handling, multimodal sedation, or just want another option for those tricky patients, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

References mentioned:
https://www.veterinaryanesthesianerds.com/blog/gv20

In this episode of the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds podcast we sit down with renowned veterinary anesthesiologist Dr. Sheilah Robertson to tackle the unique challenges of pediatric anesthesia. When dealing with tiny kittens and puppies, Dr. Robertson shares her expertise on how physiology, drug metabolism, and peri-anesthetic care differ in young patients. The conversation covers practical considerations such as choosing safe induction agents, managing hypothermia and hypoglycemia, and setting realistic expectations with pet owners. With her wealth of clinical experience, Dr. Robertson offers evidence-based tips and pearls that help veterinary teams feel more confident providing anesthesia to their smallest and most fragile patients.

Dr. Sheilah Robertson is an internationally recognized veterinary anesthesiologist and animal welfare advocate with a career spanning academia, clinical practice, research, and leadership. A graduate of the University of Glasgow with a PhD from Bristol, she is board-certified in anesthesia and animal welfare, and currently serves as Senior Medical Director at Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice and Courtesy Professor at the University of Florida. She has published extensively on pain management and anesthesia, contributed to global guidelines such as the WSAVA Pain Council and AAFP Feline Anesthesia Guidelines, and held leadership roles including President of the ACVAA. Her contributions have earned her numerous honors, including the AVMA Animal Welfare Award and the WVA Global Veterinary Award for Animal Welfare.

Do your surgical patients need more than just a comforter and a heat source in recovery?
Join Tabitha Kucera, RVT, KPA-CTP, VTS (Behavior) as we talk about al the ways you can create the optimal surgical recovery area for your patients. What sights, sounds, and smells should we be trying to achieve or avoid? Its all discussed today on the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds podcast!

About Tabitha:
As a veterinary technician, Tabitha worked with animal rescue organizations and in general practice. She quickly became dedicated to learning about the root causes and permanent solutions to feline and canine behavior concerns. She began to teach herself about behavior through continuing education, workshops, speaking to experts, completing her Low Stress Handling and Elite Fear Free Certifications, obtaining her KPA-CTP through the Karen Pryor Academy, and became a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant through the IAABC. She has also received her Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behavior Designation. She is one of only 30 in the world currently!
You can find more information at: https://chirrupsandchatter.com/

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of inhalant anesthetics—specifically isoflurane and sevoflurane—and how they fit into a balanced anesthesia protocol. Join Tasha & VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) Jen Dupre-Welsh as they break down the pharmacology, pros and cons, and clinical considerations of each agent. Whether you're a seasoned technician or just getting comfortable with gas anesthesia, this episode will help you better understand how these inhalants contribute to safe and effective anesthetic plans in veterinary practice.

Jen Dupre Welsh CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) is an experienced Specialized Veterinary Anesthesia Technician with a demonstrated history of working in the veterinary industry, both University and Specialty practice. Strong healthcare services professional skilled in Veterinary Medicine, Anesthesia, and Assessment and Management of Pain in Small And Large Animals.

She has developed numerous courses in the classroom and laboratory settings in anesthesia and analgesia for veterinary students and veterinary professionals.
Credentialed as a VTS in Anesthesia and Analgesia and a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through the International Academy of Veterinary Pain Management.

Resources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9563634/

https://www.vetamac.com/guide-to-installing-filling-draining-and-removing-a-vaporizer/

Nutrition is often a forgotten aspect of the overall animal healthcare experience, especially when compared to the more "sexy" specialties such as ECC and Anesthesia. However, nutrition plays a VITAL role in effecting almost all specialties and body systems of our patients. Today we talk to Robin Saar, a VTS (Nutrition) to talk about how nutrition plays a role specifically in post op recovery, and pain managment!

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Chaitman J, Ziese AL, Pilla R, Minamoto Y, Blake AB, Guard BC, Isaiah A, Lidbury JA, Steiner JM, Unterer S, Suchodolski JS. Fecal Microbial and Metabolic Profiles in Dogs With Acute Diarrhea Receiving Either Fecal Microbiota Transplantation or Oral Metronidazole. Front Vet Sci. 2020 Apr 16;7:192. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00192. PMID: 32363202; PMCID: PMC7182012.

Martini, S. E., Schmidt, T., Huang, W., Blake, A. B., Cavasin, J. P., Suchodolski, J. S., & Swanson, K. S. (2025). Effects of Metronidazole on the Fecal Microbiota, Fecal Metabolites, and Serum Metabolites of Healthy Adult Cats. Pets, 2(2), 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/pets2020019

https://www.amazon.ca/Veterinary-Small-Animal-Microbiomes-Nutrition/dp/1119862604

https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/TVN-2023-01_Nutrition_Microbiome.pdf

About Robin: Robin is a vintage registered veterinary technologist with a Veterinary Technician Specialty in Nutrition. Her professional experience includes working in small and mixed animal practices as an RVT, and a Practice Manager, developing a nationwide nutrition program for a Canadian veterinary corporation, and gaining sales and customer education skills at a start-up microbiome-focused company. Currently, at Royal Canin, Robin is a Sr. Scientific Communications Technician and she is completing her masters in Animal Nutrition at the University of Glasgow. Robin is a peer-reviewed, published author and was the lead author on the first dedicated textbook “Small Animal Microbiomes and Nutrition”. She enjoys supporting the veterinary community and volunteers on multiple organization boards.