If you own a veterinary clinic, or are in charge of buying for one, you may be looking to obtain a veterinary anesthesia system. This types of system helps administer anesthesia and then air to a sedated animal who may be undergoing a procedure or surgery. For many buyers, price is the primary factor that is looked at when buying a machine. However, there are many other factors to consider that are just as important. Here are a few of the factors you will want to consider as you go about selecting the right veterinary anesthesia system for your veterinary hospital. 

The Warranty on the Machine

When you are looking to purchase a veterinary anesthesia machine, consider how long the warranty on the machine is. Some warranties can be as little as one year, whereas other can be as long as ten years. If you are investing in this type of equipment, you intend on using it often and for many years to come. A warranty can help ensure that the product is available to use. If something should go wrong with the machine, your warranty will cover pricey repairs, ensuring you do not have to pay for those items out of pocket or buy a new machine. The longer the warranty, the better for your wallet. 

How Much it Costs to Operate

While the cost of the unit itself is an important factor to consider if your vet hospital is on a strict budget, it is not the only factor to consider. Different veterinary anesthesia systems cost a different amount to operate. Some run on battery power. These batteries need to be charged and then replaced as needed when they stop holding a charge. Others plug into a wall and run on electricity. Some are more energy efficient than others, costing less to run. If money is tight, you may not want a veterinary anesthesia machine that uses a ton of energy, as this can raise your energy bill. Look for units that are energy efficient and have a battery back-up system. 

How Oxygen is Delivered to the Patient

The last factor you need to consider when selecting a veterinary anesthesia system is how the oxygen is delivered to a patient. Some systems use E tanks or H tanks to deliver oxygen. These tanks have to be purchased and replaced with refilled tanks when they run out. Other systems pull oxygen from the air and run it through filters so that hospital grade oxygen is delivered to the patient. The initial costs for a tankless system may be a bit higher. However, when you add in the cost of purchasing tanks and paying to have them refilled over and over, you may be better off with a tankless system, if you can afford it. 

There are a lot of factors you need to consider when purchasing a veterinary anesthesia system. Learning what factors you need to consider will help you select the machine that is best for your budget and your furry patients. Click here for more about this topic.

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