This article is sponsored content brought to you by Zoetis.
Every surgical procedure, from the most routine to the most complex, relies on safe, effective anaesthetic and pain management. In a busy veterinary practice, finding time to stay current with the latest anaesthesia and analgesia (A&A) techniques can be difficult. Successful anaesthesia and pain management are about much more than the products used—they rely on knowledge, experience, and ongoing professional development. Below, we highlight some useful tools available to help you and your team stay up to date in this critical area of patient care.
Think Anaesthesia®: On-Demand Learning for Vets and Nurses
Think Anaesthesia is an online education platform designed to provide flexible, accessible learning opportunities for veterinary teams. Featuring CPD-accredited webinars, podcasts, and practical tools, the platform allows both veterinarians and veterinary nurses to build confidence in their A&A knowledge, at a pace that suits them.
The content is delivered by leading experts in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia, offering insights drawn from both international and local practice. Beyond webinars, Think Anaesthesia provides a library of downloadable tools, including anaesthetic safety checklists, monitoring charts, equipment maintenance logs, classification guides, and interpretation resources. Designed to be used directly in clinic, these materials aid in bridging the gap between theory and practice to help veterinary teams deliver safer, more consistent care every day.
Whether you’re refreshing your knowledge, training new team members, or staying up to date with the latest best practice, Think Anaesthesia supports continuous professional development in this critical area of veterinary care.
The AVAAAP Perianaesthetic Analgesic Guidelines
In collaboration with registered Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia specialists, Zoetis has formed the Australian Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia Advisory Panel (AVAAAP). This panel aims to support the understanding and advancement of veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia amongst Australian veterinary teams.
This partnership has led to the creation of the AVAAAP Perianaesthetic Analgesic Guidelines for Companion Animal Veterinary Practice. These evidence-based guidelines are built on published literature, emerging research, and expert insights, with the goal of improving perioperative pain management in small animal patients.
The guidelines serve as a practical, quick-reference tool for clinical teams, covering pain physiology and assessment, as well as recommendations for the optimal use of Opioids, NSAIDs, Alpha-2 Agonists, Local Anaesthetics, and Additional Anaesthetic Techniques.
We’ve also developed resources to complement the guidelines and support integration into clinical practice:
• A Dosing Guide Summary for common perianaesthetic medications, including the AVAAAP recommended dose rates.
• The Feline Grimace Scale fact sheet and training manual (with permission from the University of Montreal).
• The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scales for dogs and cats (with permission from NewMetrica).
The Expert Lounge: A Hub for Clinical Excellence
A one-stop hub that centralises educational content across multiple therapeutic areas. The Expert Lounge provides streamlined access to both Think Anaesthesia and the AVAAAP Guidelines, ensuring that every resource is just a click away.
It also features practical and educational resources spanning Dermatology, Osteoarthritis, and Preventative Care, offering a platform that supports veterinary practices across these common patient needs. With early access to new content and exclusive events, The Expert Lounge ensures clinics are always at the forefront of veterinary knowledge.
As your partner in education, Zoetis empowers veterinary teams with the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to deliver the highest standard of anaesthesia and analgesia.
By providing trusted solutions alongside practical training, expert-led resources, and everyday clinical tools, we ensure clinics are supported—because when teams are confident, patients benefit, and that is the outcome that matters most.
