Research overview: physiologic monitoring during large felid anesthesia

Anesthetizing large felids carries substantial physiologic risk, and monitoring of oxygenation, ventilation, heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature is essential, with pulse oximetry, capnography, and blood gas analysis used where feasible. Hypoxemia is common in recumbent big cats, frequently prompting supplemental oxygen. This overview compiles the anesthesia-monitoring literature rather than one citation, describing the parameters tracked and the equipment adapted for field and zoo conditions, why large body size and recumbency predispose to respiratory compromise, and how proactive support such as oxygen supplementation and positioning reduces complications. It matters because rigorous monitoring transforms big-cat anesthesia from a high-risk gamble into a controlled procedure, protecting irreplaceable individuals during examinations, treatments, translocations, and research interventions.