Beyond the Scales: Practical Reptile Anaesthesia

Anaesthetising reptiles requires a different approach to traditional mammalian patients. Their unique anatomy, physiology, and environmental requirements present a range of challenges that demand careful planning and species-specific knowledge to ensure safe anaesthetic management.

In this practical webinar, Tawny Kershaw RVN explores the key considerations for anaesthetising reptile patients, focusing on peri-anaesthetic risk management, species-specific anatomical differences, and their implications for anaesthesia. The session will also cover the essential equipment needed to perform safe and effective reptile anaesthesia, along with practical tips to help veterinary teams optimise patient care before, during, and after anaesthesia.

Designed for veterinary professionals of all experience levels, this webinar provides practical, evidence-based guidance to build confidence in the anaesthetic management of reptiles, particularly in general practice where specialist support may not always be available.

Tawny Kershaw

RVN

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Tawny graduated from Nottingham Trent University as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2016, before moving on to complete her BSc Top Up in Veterinary Nursing Science, followed by an MSc degree in Endangered Species Recovery and Conservation, a certificate in anaesthesia, and a certificate in nursing of zoological and exotic species. Tawny has worked in a variety of veterinary settings including in the UK and overseas with a wide range of species and has lectured at numerous national conferences. Tawny’s interests include anaesthesia care and monitoring, exotic patient care, and evidence-based nursing. BSc(Hons) MSc DipVNZS APVN(Zoo) NCert(AnaesthNsg) RVN AFHEA