PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK IN AT THE VOLUNTEER TABLE IN THE HALLWAY INSIDE. GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.

The anesthesia area is the catalyst for beginning a clinic on time. This station must set up immediately so the Anesthetist may begin anesthesia at the designated starting time. Begin according to the Supervisor, but NO LATER THAN 8:45 a.m. An Anesthesia Transport volunteer will bring cats to you from the waiting area. Be sure to speak with the Anesthesia Transport volunteers before the clinic starts and read each others' instruction sheets so you understand your roles working together.

(1) PREPARE the anesthesia mixture by adding one ml xylazine (100 mg/ml) and four ml ketamine (100 mg/ml) to one bottle of dry Telazol. Dosage is 0.25 ml per average adult cat. Adjust the dose up or down for smaller or larger cats. Minimum dose is 0.125 ml, maximum dose is 0.3 ml. FOR ANY OTHER DOSES, CONSULT THE SUPERVISOR. Use 3ml syringes with a 21 ga needle to administer the anesthetic. Smaller needles and syringes are not sturdy enough and may break if a cat jerks during injection.

(2) LABEL the mixed vial as "TKX" and date it. Contact the Supervisor if you need additional drugs. Use the Sharpie marker.

(3) OBSERVE the cat before anesthetizing to check for the following:
(A) Tipped left ear, indicating the cat is an Operation Cat Nap "graduate" (already neutered). The cat should be placed in the Recovery station without being anesthetized. Notify the Supervisor.
(B) General health and appearance. Contact the Supervisor with any concerns. Do not anesthetize extremely debilitated cats or kittens younger than 3 months or approximately 3 lbs. body weight without first contacting the Supervisor.

(4) WEARING PROTECTIVE LEATHER GLOVES, INJECT the cat intramuscularly through the bars in the trap. Use the catacomb and/or the "Cat Tamer" stick to aid in non-stressful, humane restraint. The Anesthesia Transport volunteer will then place the cat still in the trap in the induction area to go to sleep. TRAPS CONTAINING AN AWAKE OR SEMI-CONSCIOUS CAT SHOULD NEVER BE OPENED. Since we are in a large room with open doors, it is difficult to contain an escaped cat and someone could be seriously injured!

(5) MONITOR the cat carefully for complications of anesthesia such as irregular breathing, no breathing or vomiting. If, after 10-15 minutes, the cat is not anesthetized, an additional 0.125 ml may be given IM through the trap bars. This is rarely necessary. Again, monitor the cat carefully for complications of anesthesia. No additional doses may be given without contacting the Supervisor. The Anesthesia Transport volunteers will also help to monitor cats in the Induction area.

(6) RECORD all Telazol and Ketamine use and waste on the Anesthesia Log, which will be signed and witnessed by all Anesthesia volunteers. Turn in the completed and signed Anesthesia Log to the Supervisor at the end of the day along with the remaining control drugs including empty bottles. The Supervisor will review it for DEA compliance before you leave.

ONE PERSON SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOGGING THE ANESTHESIA WHILE THE OTHER TWO VOLUNTEERS ARE ANESTHETIZING CATS.

At the end of the clinic, clean up your station and dispose of trash. As you repack your kit, verify that all of the supplies that belong in your kit are there. (See Inventory Sheet included in your kit.) After the last cat has been anesthetized, and you have cleaned your station, please collect a load of laundry from anesthesia transport and start it at the SAC.

PLEASE LEAVE THIS INSTRUCTION SHEET WITH YOUR STATION KIT AT THE END OF THE DAY. THANK YOU.