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Veterinary clinics play a central role in keeping pets healthy. In addition to typical medical tools like stethoscopes and scales, veterinarians use a range of medical-grade gases to perform procedures and manage pet emergencies. Gases can relax animals during treatments or help them breathe more easily. Understanding the gases used in veterinary care and procedures helps vets provide the best quality care to their animal patients.
Veterinarians use oxygen, nitrous oxide and anesthesia gases. Animals are often stressed or scared when they’re ill and in unfamiliar places, like the vet clinic. Veterinarians will use gases to make diagnosing and surgical procedures easier and more comfortable.
Each gas has a specific purpose. For example, the role of helium in medical procedures is cryogenic, and it’s used as a support gas. Helium traditionally cools down equipment like MRI machines, which detect abnormalities in animals’ bodies. Anesthesia agents, like isoflurane, keep pets unconscious during a procedure.
Oxygen is a common gas used in veterinary medicine. When stressed or dealing with medical emergencies, animals can struggle to breathe properly. They might even enter respiratory failure. Oxygen therapy in medical treatment is common. Vets employ different tools to deliver oxygen into the pet’s body and help their organs work properly.
Veterinarians administer oxygen using different methods depending on the patient’s condition. Oxygen cannulas, masks, oxygen cages and ventilators are all effective. If an animal is suffering from shock or heart failure, it’s critical to get oxygen into its system to avoid complications.
Vet practices need a constant oxygen supply in clinics and hospitals. Cylinders or bulk storage tanks hold compressed oxygen. Every facility must regulate oxygen storage and flow to ensure safe use during medical procedures. If there is an emergency or a system failure, backup systems will help protect animals during care.
Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is another gas used in vet work. It acts as a mild anesthetic and analgesic. Nitrous oxide helps suppress pain, reduce anxiety and induce relaxation during minor procedures. When used with oxygen or anesthesia gases, it’s an effective sedative for animals undergoing dental work, imaging or surgical preparation.
While nitrous oxide helps relax patients during appointments, it must be handled carefully. Nitrous oxide can displace oxygen in the air, leading to health risks for people and animals. Vet clinics should support their nitrous oxide use with gas removal and leak detection systems.
Anesthesia gases are a category of gases used to induce and keep animals unconscious during vet procedures. They also help manage pain and keep patients’ airways open during surgery. When patients inhale anesthesia, it enters their bloodstream from the lungs and travels to the brain, affecting neurotransmitters and nerves.
Common anesthesia gases include:
Technicians administer gases through a mask, chamber or endotracheal tube, depending on the animal and their condition. Each patient receives their dose based on health, size and species.
Helium is a common supporting gas in anesthesia. Vets can use a helium-oxygen mixture called heliox to help with respiratory issues. Heliox is used in respiratory therapy to assist animals with airway obstructions or severe respiratory distress. Because helium is less dense than air, heliox can flow more easily through narrowed airways, requiring less effort from the patient.
While gases are integral to supporting veterinary procedures, they need proper handling. Offices must invest in safe gas storage and management to keep their practices safe.
Anesthesia machines, vaporizers and scavenging systems administer and control gas levels without harming staff. This equipment uses pressure gauges, alarms and flowmeters to maintain delivery levels. If there is a malfunction, sensors should detect it and trigger alarms and safety measures. Investing in the right equipment will help protect your team as they work.
Maintenance is also critical for gas safety. Gas delivery and anesthesia machines must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Make sure your team is performing:
Contact a Meritus Gas team expert to learn more about proper gas storage and management.
Use industry-approved medical gas storage, such as tanks and cylinders with secure valve caps. Source your gases from vendors with traceable gas products to avoid impure mixes. Cylinders should always be stored securely and upright to prevent tipping. Make sure all your gases are organized by type to prevent safety hazards or gas mix-ups.
Additionally, your storage areas need clear labeling. To protect workers, post signage indicating the presence of pressurized medical gases. Double-check your storage and signage with local fire codes and safety regulations.
Veterinary offices should have written protocols for all gas-related measures. Outline protocols for cylinder transport, gas handling, leak detection and emergency response. Your staff needs thorough training in identifying hazards, wearing protective equipment and connecting regulators. If procedures are not followed, implement follow-up training. The better your staff training, the more prepared they’ll be to handle hazardous situations.
Vet practices must have emergency preparedness plans in place for unexpected events. Equipment failure and power outages can happen suddenly, risking everyone’s safety. Make sure your office:
A reliable gas partner can provide you with support. Work with your gas supplier to outline emergency plans and create tailored backup stock. They’ll help you plan contingencies and assess risks so you have an uninterrupted gas supply — even during emergencies.
Veterinarians depend on a reliable gas supply and management to provide patients with the necessary care. Oxygen, anesthesia and other medical-grade gases must be available on demand. A disruption in gas availability or quality can compromise an animal’s care. Vet offices must work with trusted sources for high-quality, reliable gas supplies. Choose a provider with traceable gases and a reputation for fast delivery. You need a partner that can support you in providing uninterrupted, high-quality care.
Veterinary clinics must have access to a constant supply of quality gases. With Meritus Gas Partners, medical centers can access essential gases and specialty mixtures. We offer a range of high-purity medical gases backed by years of expertise and fast service. Our medical gases meet United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary standards for safety and quality.
With Meritus Gas Partners’ nationwide network, you can easily find the supply you need. We offer personalized support, on-time deliveries and a deep knowledge of the industry’s gas requirements. Contact us to explore our gas options and get services tailored to your veterinary practice.
