What is the minimum equipment needed for safe veterinary general anaesthesia?

Safe general anaesthesia requires an inhalant anaesthesia machine with a precision vaporiser, a rebreathing or non-rebreathing circuit appropriate for the patient size, an endotracheal tube, and monitoring for SpO2, heart rate and blood pressure as a minimum. Capnography (end-tidal CO2) is strongly recommended for any procedure longer than 15 minutes.

What is the difference between isoflurane and sevoflurane for veterinary use?

Both are inhalant anaesthetic agents used in veterinary practice. Sevoflurane has a lower blood-gas solubility coefficient, producing faster induction and recovery — particularly advantageous in feline and avian patients. Isoflurane is less expensive and more widely available. Both require a species-matched precision vaporiser; they cannot share the same vaporiser.

How often does a veterinary anaesthesia machine need servicing?

Annual preventive maintenance is the recommended minimum. This includes leak testing of the breathing circuit, soda-lime canister inspection, vaporiser output verification, flowmeter calibration, and pop-off valve function check. More frequent inspection is warranted in high-volume practices.