Prepared, not panicked.

Learn how to plan an anaesthetic properly - before you touch a syringe.

- Targeted exams
- Breed-specific flags
- Fasting & meds
- ASA status
- Machine checklists

You’ll finish this module with a repeatable framework for assessing any patient - understanding how breed, medications, age, and condition affect anaesthetic risk - and know exactly how to prep your machine, assign ASA status, and explain the process clearly to clients.

Lesson 1: Introduction
In this module, Dr. Kristi Kobluk walks you through what this module will cover and how it connects to everyday clinical decision-making. Whether you are handling routine procedures or complex cases, this introduction helps frame the mindset needed to anaesthetise with intention and confidence.

Lesson 2: Physical Examination
Before the monitors, comes your hands, eyes, and ears. This sub-module breaks down how to conduct a purposeful pre-anaesthetic exam — focusing on the heart, lungs, mucous membranes, and more. Learn what to listen for, what subtle signs can mean, and how your findings feed into risk assessment and planning.

Lesson 3: Patient History and Medications
What you ask matters. Explore how to take a thorough history with anaesthesia in mind. You'll cover breed-specific red flags, important medication protocols, and what to do if a patient arrives having just eaten or taken their morning meds. A practical guide for protecting your patient before they even hit the table.

Lesson 4: Bloodwork
Numbers tell a story — if you know how to read them. This section helps you interpret key blood values like PCV, TP, glucose, and lactate in the context of anaesthesia. Learn what findings should pause your plan, when a transfusion might be necessary, and how to spot underlying disease that could complicate recovery.

Lesson 5: Imaging
Not every patient needs it, but when they do, it matters. This sub-module walks you through how thoracic and abdominal imaging, especially radiographs, play into pre-anaesthetic assessment. Review case-based examples that help sharpen your eye for signs of aspiration, heart failure, or GDV before you proceed.

Lesson 6: Assigning ASA Status
The ASA system isn’t just a label — it’s a tool. Here, you’ll learn how to use ASA status to assess anaesthetic risk and communicate it clearly with your team and clients. Real-world case examples walk you through how to assign status based on systemic disease severity, urgency, and expected outcomes.

Lesson 7: Machine and Equipment Setup
A good anaesthetic plan means nothing without the right setup. Learn how to choose and check your equipment — from rebreathing vs non-rebreathing circuits to flow rate calculations and bag sizing. Get confident in building a machine setup that fits your patient’s size and condition.

Lesson 8: Case Setup Example
It’s time to put it all together. In this case-based sub-module, you’ll walk through anaesthetic machine selection, bag size calculation, and oxygen flow rate determination using real patient examples. The goal is to bridge theory and practice, helping you feel more at ease during prep, especially under pressure.

Right drug. Right dose. Right outcome.

Build drug plans that make sense - and work in real life.

- Protocols for tough patients
- TIVA vs inhalants
- Side effects & reversals
- Real examples, not just theory

By the end, you’ll be able to construct fully customised premedication plans, compare opioids and sedatives like acepromazine vs dexmedetomidine, calculate exact IM/IV doses, and confidently select the safest, most effective option - even for fractious, critical, or high-anxiety patients.

Lesson 1: Peri-anaesthetic Pharmacology
Gain a solid foundation in how sedation and premedication drugs work. You will explore their effects on the body and how they set the stage for safe anaesthesia.

Lesson 2: Factors to Consider When Selecting a Pre-anaesthetic Medication
Learn the key factors that guide your drug choices, from patient health status to procedure type. This sub-module helps you build a thoughtful, case-specific plan.

Lesson 3: Premedication
Review why premedication matters and how it improves patient comfort and safety. You will learn timing, routes of administration, and common protocols.

Lesson 4: Alpha-2 Adrenoceptor Agonist – Dexmedetomidine
Understand how dexmedetomidine works, when to use it, and how to manage its effects. You will see why it is a valuable tool in many anaesthetic plans.

Lesson 5: Phenothiazine – Acepromazine
Explore the pharmacology of acepromazine and its role in sedation. Learn dosing guidelines, benefits, and precautions to avoid complications.

Lesson 6: Dissociative – Ketamine
Get confident using ketamine safely. This section covers its analgesic and anaesthetic properties, along with key considerations in different patients.

Lesson 7: Anti-Emetics
Review how and when to use anti-emetics to reduce nausea and vomiting risks before anaesthesia. This sub-module explains common options and dosing strategies.

Lesson 8: Benzodiazepines – Midazolam and Diazepam
Understand how benzodiazepines fit into premedication plans. You will learn their calming effects, advantages, and when they are most appropriate.

Lesson 9: Opioids
Explore why opioids are the backbone of analgesia in anaesthesia. Learn about different classes, their mechanisms, and how to integrate them into balanced protocols.

Lesson 10: Opioids – Full Mu Agonists
Dive deeper into full mu agonists like fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine. This sub-module reviews indications, benefits, and monitoring for side effects.

Lesson 11: Opioids – Partial Mu Agonists
Learn how partial mu agonists provide moderate analgesia with fewer side effects. Understand their role in specific patients and procedures.

Lesson 12: Opioids – Kappa Agonist and Mu Antagonist
See how kappa agonist–mu antagonist drugs like butorphanol can be used for mild pain relief and sedation. You will review dosing and practical applications.

Lesson 13: Induction
Prepare for smooth induction by reviewing essential steps. This section covers patient preparation, drug administration, and airway management basics.

Lesson 14: Induction GABA-A Agonists – Propofol
Understand how propofol works for induction and maintenance. Learn dosing, administration techniques, and how to avoid complications.

Lesson 15: Induction GABA-A Agonists – Alfaxalone
Review the use of alfaxalone as an induction agent. This sub-module explains its advantages, limitations, and clinical tips.

Lesson 16: Induction Dissociative – Ketamine
See how ketamine can be used for induction, either alone or combined. Learn practical dosing and when to consider it over other agents.

Lesson 17: Premedication and Induction Tips and Tricks
Pick up expert tips to make premedication and induction safer and more predictable. These insights help you troubleshoot challenges in real time.

Lesson 18: TIVA
Understand Total Intravenous Anaesthesia and when it is appropriate. Learn how to create balanced protocols and monitor your patient effectively.

Lesson 19: TIVA – What if I Don’t Have a Syringe Pump?
Get clear guidance on delivering TIVA without a syringe pump. This section explains practical alternatives and how to calculate infusion rates safely.

Lesson 20: Recovery
Master the recovery phase. Learn how to monitor patients, manage pain, and anticipate complications as they wake from anaesthesia.

Lesson 21: Cases
Apply everything you have learned to real-world scenarios. Work through detailed cases that bring pharmacology, planning, and patient care together.

No more white-knuckle intubations.

Step-by-step guidance to get your patient safely from sedation to surgery.

- Equipment setup
- Circuit & tube selection
- Intubation (plus what to do when it goes wrong)
- Leak testing & airway checks

You’ll learn how to calculate precise propofol dosages, pre-oxygenate correctly, choose and size the right breathing circuits, troubleshoot airway complications, and perform leak tests with confidence - ensuring you never feel lost during the most critical moment of the procedure.

Lesson 1: Pre-anaesthetic Period
Learn how to prepare your patient before induction. This sub-module covers reviewing records, checking equipment, and confirming plans so you can start with confidence.

Lesson 2: Peri-anaesthetic Fluid Therapy
Understand how to calculate, set up, and monitor fluids during anaesthesia. You will learn why fluid support is critical and how to tailor rates to each patient.

Lesson 3: Adding Dextrose to a Fluid Bag
Get step-by-step instructions for safely mixing dextrose into fluids. This section explains calculations, technique, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Lesson 4: Baseline Values
Know your starting point before induction. Learn which vital signs to record, why they matter, and how they help detect problems early.

Lesson 5: Pre-oxygenation
Review the benefits of oxygen supplementation before induction. You will see how to perform pre-oxygenation effectively and when it is most important.

Lesson 6: Intubation Supplies
Be ready with the right tools every time. This sub-module details what you need for safe intubation and how to check that your equipment is functioning properly.

Lesson 7: Induction
Understand the process of inducing anaesthesia smoothly. Learn about dosing, patient positioning, and strategies to minimise stress and complications.

Lesson 8: How to Confirm Intubation
Learn how to be certain your airway is secure. This section explains reliable ways to confirm tube placement and what to do if it is not correct.

Lesson 9: Intubation
Get a clear, stepwise guide to performing intubation. You will see tips for improving technique and troubleshooting common challenges.

Lesson 10: Complications of Intubation
Be prepared for issues that can arise. This sub-module covers how to recognise, prevent, and respond to complications during airway management.

Read the signs. Stay calm. Take action.

Get your eyes off the monitor and onto what really matters.

✔ Capnography, BP, ECGs, pulse ox
✔ Hypotension, hypothermia, arrhythmias
✔ Anaesthetic depth decoded
✔ Algorithms that actually help

By the end, you’ll be able to spot abnormal trends early, interpret vital signs in context, differentiate between pain, light anaesthesia, and dysphoria, and follow a structured plan to manage the most common complications - before they spiral out of control.

Lesson 1: Introduction
Get oriented to the goals of monitoring under anaesthesia. This section explains why vigilance is the most important safeguard for your patient.

Lesson 2: Monitoring
Learn how to interpret monitoring data and recognise early signs of trouble. You will cover heart rate, blood pressure, oxygenation, and depth of anaesthesia.

Lesson 3: Hypotension
Understand how to detect and manage low blood pressure during procedures. This sub-module gives you practical steps to protect perfusion and prevent complications.

Lesson 4: Temperature
Review why temperature drops under anaesthesia and how to prevent hypothermia. You will learn simple strategies to maintain patient warmth and improve recovery.

Lesson 5: Hypoventilation
Explore what causes hypoventilation and how to respond. This section shows you how to recognise changes in CO2 and support ventilation effectively.

Lesson 6: Hyperventilation
Learn to identify hyperventilation, understand why it matters, and see how to adjust your plan when CO2 drops too low.

Lesson 7: Normal Ventilation
Know what healthy ventilation looks like. You will review normal ranges and how to confirm your patient is breathing effectively.

Lesson 8: Arrhythmias
Become confident recognising and responding to arrhythmias. This sub-module covers bradycardia, tachycardia, and when to intervene.

Lesson 9: Pain and Surgical Stimulation
Understand how surgical stimulation impacts your monitoring parameters. Learn how to distinguish pain responses from other causes of change.

Lesson 10: Hypoxemia
Get clear strategies for detecting and treating low oxygen levels. You will learn troubleshooting tips and when to escalate care.

Lesson 11: Cases
Apply your skills in realistic scenarios. These cases help you practise problem-solving, interpretation, and response planning.

The difference between knowing and doing.

Bring it all together with guided case studies.

✔ Build full protocols
✔ Make calls on drugs, fluids, and complications
✔ Recover patients safely
✔ Plan for pain, not panic

You’ll anaesthetise a high-energy terrier, troubleshoot a hypotensive post-op pit bull, and stabilise a GDV emergency - applying your knowledge to real-world cases involving drug choice, route, machine setup, intra-op management, ECG interpretation, and safe, stress-free recovery planning.

Lesson 1: Introduction
Get ready to bring together everything you have learned. This section explains how to approach real cases with confidence and create safe, thoughtful plans.

Lesson 2: Case #1
Work step by step through a straightforward surgical case. Practise building an anaesthetic protocol, selecting drugs, and preparing equipment.

Lesson 3: Case #2
Challenge yourself with a more complex patient scenario. You will review how to adjust plans for comorbidities, special considerations, and higher risk factors.

Lesson 4: Case #3
Test your skills with a case that includes unexpected changes. Learn how to adapt quickly, troubleshoot issues, and keep the patient stable.

Online MCQ Exam

The exam - written by Dr Kristi Kobluk based directly on the course content - can be accessed any time after you complete the course materials. You’ll have two attempts to take the test, with each attempt limited to two hours. Your result will appear instantly. Score at least 70%, and you’ll receive your personalised certificate signed by Dr Kristi Kobluk.