Veterinary Anesthetist vs Veterinary Anesthesiologist
Dr. Geoff Carullo, DVM, FPCCP, DPCVSCA
- Articles
- 3 min read
There is a moment in every surgery that no one talks about.
The incision hasn’t been made yet.
The scalpel is still resting.
The surgeon is ready.
But everything… depends on the one holding the anesthesia.
Because before any surgery succeeds—
an animal must first survive unconsciousness.
And this is where the difference begins.
In many clinics, the terms are used interchangeably.
They shouldn’t be.
A veterinary anesthetist is typically a trained professional responsible for:
They are often:
They are hands-on.
They keep the patient stable.
They execute.
But most of the time,
they work under protocols created by someone else.
A veterinary anesthesiologist is something entirely different.
This is a veterinarian who has undergone:
They are responsible for:
They don’t just give anesthesia.
They own the physiology behind it.
It’s not about who holds the syringe.
It’s about who understands what happens when things go wrong.
When blood pressure crashes
When oxygen drops without warning
When the patient doesn’t wake up as expected
The anesthetist reacts.
The anesthesiologist anticipates.
Let’s be honest.
In the Philippines and many parts of the world:
And yet—
surgeries still happen every day.
Which means the reality is this:
The majority of veterinary anesthesia is performed by anesthetists.
And that’s not wrong.
But it comes with responsibility.
The biggest risk is not lack of equipment.
It’s overconfidence in routine cases.
Because anesthesia is deceptive.
And when that happens,
the difference between survival and loss is no longer surgical skill.
It becomes anesthetic judgment.
Not every clinic needs a diplomate anesthesiologist.
But every clinic needs to think like one.
That means:
Because anesthesia is not a step.
It is a discipline.
In surgery, the spotlight is always on the surgeon.
But the truth?
The most dangerous part of the procedure happens
before the first cut—and after the last suture.
And the one managing that space
is the one holding the patient’s life.
Not visibly.
Not loudly.
But completely.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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