Tasha McNerney, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), aka the original Anesthesia Nerd, joins Dr. Andy Roark to dive into the cutting edge of pain management in veterinary surgery. In this episode, Tasha discusses how to reduce opioid use while improving patient outcomes through multimodal analgesia and local anesthetic blocks. She breaks down the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol, adapted from human medicine, and how it can revolutionize the way veterinary teams manage surgical pain.

Dr. Roark and Tasha explore practical strategies for implementing local blocks in a variety of procedures, from spays and neuters to advanced orthopedic surgeries, and discuss how adjunctive analgesics like ketamine and dexmedetomidine can enhance outcomes. Tasha also shares her vision for the future of veterinary surgery, emphasizing the importance of technician training, low-stress handling, and better pre-visit pharmaceutical protocols. Get ready to elevate your pain management game. Let’s get into this episode!

LINKS

Pre-order Pain Management for Vet Techs and Nurses on Amazon

Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds website

Feline Grimace Scale app

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Tasha McNerney, CVT, obtained her certification in 2005 and has worked clinically in anesthesia and surgery ever since. She earned her CVPP (Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner) designation in 2013 and became a Veterinary Technician Specialist (Anesthesia & Analgesia) in 2015. Tasha is a sought-after speaker on anesthesia and pain management topics, presenting at numerous international veterinary conferences. She is also the author of multiple articles and blogs dedicated to advancing knowledge in these fields.

In 2013, Tasha founded the Facebook group Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds, which has grown to over 65,000 members worldwide, fostering education and the exchange of ideas among veterinary professionals.

When not in the clinic or educating others, Tasha enjoys working on her 1920s fixer-upper home in Philadelphia, inspired by endless home improvement tutorials on YouTube. She lives with her husband, son, one wonderful cat, and another who keeps life interesting with its mischievous personality.

Mentioned in this episode:

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