A veterinary patient monitor should tell you four things about an anesthetized patient: how well they’re oxygenating, how well they’re ventilating, how well their circulation is holding up, and what their temperature is. Everything else on the spec sheet is detail. This guide walks through the parameters that matter, how the Bionet Brio XVet monitors we carry compare, and what to ask before you buy.
Monitoring matters well beyond the surgical table. In a UK study of more than 177,000 dogs and cats (CEPSAF, Brodbelt et al., 2008), 47% of anesthetic-related deaths in dogs and 61% in cats happened after the procedure, not during it. A good monitoring plan covers induction, surgery, and recovery.
What a monitor needs to cover
The American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia recommends monitoring ventilation, circulation, oxygenation, and temperature. AAHA’s 2020 anesthesia and monitoring guidelines say the same thing in practical terms: monitor respiratory function, cardiovascular function (heart rate and blood pressure), cardiac rhythm with ECG, and body temperature, and keep an anesthesia record. A Veterinary Practice News overview of anesthesia monitors boils that down to a complete monitor having capnography, non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, ECG, and temperature.
| Parameter | What it tells you | Why you want it |
|---|---|---|
| Pulse oximetry (SpO2) | Oxygenation | Catches hypoxemia and helps confirm a pulse |
| Capnography (EtCO2) | Ventilation | Shows how well the patient is moving air, breath by breath |
| ECG | Heart rate and rhythm | Catches arrhythmias as they develop |
| Blood pressure | Circulation | Hypotension is a common complication of anesthesia |
| Temperature | Heat balance | Anesthetized patients lose heat quickly |
| Respiratory rate | Breathing pattern | Trends toward apnea or tachypnea |
Pulse oximetry and capnography answer different questions
This is the one trade-off buyers most often get wrong. ACVA’s monitoring guidelines list pulse oximetry for oxygenation and capnography (end-expired CO2) for ventilation. A patient can have a reassuring SpO2 while ventilation is falling, so a monitor without capnography leaves a real gap.
When you look at specs, check which capnography options a monitor supports. The Bionet Brio X3Vet and Brio X7Vet are listed as compatible with both mainstream and sidestream EtCO2 capnography. Bionet also offers a Dual Gas module, a sidestream analyzer that measures EtCO2 and one of three anesthetic agents (isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane, selected manually), designed to plug into the Brio XVet series.
Blood pressure: know your thresholds
Hypotension is common under anesthesia, and you can’t see it without measuring it. AAHA’s guidelines define hypotension as systolic pressure below roughly 80 to 90 mm Hg, or mean arterial pressure below roughly 60 to 70 mm Hg.
For a buyer, that raises practical questions about non-invasive blood pressure. Does the monitor use a motion-tolerant NIBP module? Which cuff sizes come with it, and can you get small ones for cats and small dogs? Bionet lists Suntech NIBP and SpO2 modules on the Brio XVet series, with SpO2 motion tolerance up to 450 bpm, which matters for patients with fast heart rates, like cats. The series also lists two channels of invasive blood pressure, so confirm which options are included in the configuration you’re quoted.
Alarms, trends, and the anesthesia record
The ACVA guidelines recommend recording monitored variables on a regular basis during anesthesia, at a minimum every 5 to 10 minutes, and also recording heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature in early recovery. That’s a lot of hand-charting for a technician who is also watching a patient.
This is where software earns its keep. Every Brio monitor includes BT Link Next software, which makes automated vital sign recordings at custom intervals and transfers data to your practice management or electronic medical record system. When you evaluate any monitor, ask what’s recorded automatically, how often, and how it gets into the patient record.
Screen size, portability, and where the monitor lives
Think about where the monitor will sit and who needs to see it.
- Brio X3Vet: 8″ touchscreen. Compact and portable, and Bionet describes it as covering recovery monitoring through anesthetic procedures. It includes a battery and printer for 2 to 3 hours of cordless monitoring and a 4-year warranty.
- Brio X5Vet: 12.1″ touchscreen. The mid-size option, with veterinary-specific technology and automated vital sign recording.
- Brio X7Vet: 15.6″ touchscreen. The largest screen in the series, so the person running anesthesia can read trends from across the room. It includes a battery and printer for 2 to 3 hours of cordless monitoring and a 4-year warranty.
- Oxy9Wave Vet pulse oximeter. A handheld unit with a 3.5″ color display, low-perfusion SpO2 measurement, and up to 20 hours of cordless use on its rechargeable battery. It’s a good fit for spot checks, dentals, and recovery.
Don’t forget recovery
Given that so many anesthetic deaths occur after the procedure, a plan for recovery monitoring should be part of your purchase. Some practices move the surgical monitor to recovery. Others add a second, smaller unit, or a handheld pulse oximeter for spot checks. Either way, decide before you buy, not after.
A shortlist to start from
Based on the specs on each product page, here’s how I’d sort it. It’s a starting point, not a ranking:
- A compact monitor for recovery or a small suite: the Brio X3Vet.
- A general practice surgical suite: the Brio X5Vet.
- A busy or high-acuity suite, or a room where several people watch the screen: the Brio X7Vet.
- Spot checks, dentals, and a second pair of eyes in recovery: the Oxy9Wave Vet.
You can browse everything on our patient monitoring page, and read more about the series in our post on Bionet’s latest advances in veterinary monitoring.
Bionet year-end promotion, through December 31, 2026. Buy any Brio XVet monitor and get a free Oxy9Wave Vet pulse oximeter. Buy a Brio X7Vet and get a free rolling cart. Ask us about the offer.
Questions to ask any vendor before you buy
- Which parameters are included, and which are optional modules?
- Which capnography options does it support, mainstream, sidestream, or both?
- Which NIBP cuffs come with it, and are small sizes available for cats and small dogs?
- How does it record data, and how do records get into your practice software?
- How long does the battery last, and is a printer included?
- What’s the warranty, who services it, and is a loaner available?
Our repair team provides phone support and repairs, our inspection service covers preventative maintenance, and the Just Works service plan puts it on a schedule. Financing is available. Monitoring is one part of a safe anesthetic setup, so see our guides to anesthesia circuits and anesthesia machine maintenance, our repair or replace guide, and the full clinic equipment list. For a quote, request one here.
Frequently asked questions
What parameters should a veterinary anesthesia monitor include?
ACVA recommends monitoring ventilation, circulation, oxygenation, and temperature. In practice that means capnography, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, ECG, and temperature.
Do I need capnography?
It’s the standard way to monitor ventilation. Pulse oximetry tells you about oxygenation, not ventilation, so a monitor without capnography leaves a gap. Look for a monitor that supports it, either built in or as an optional module.
What’s the difference between pulse oximetry and capnography?
Pulse oximetry estimates hemoglobin saturation and reflects oxygenation. Capnography measures end-expired CO2 and reflects ventilation.
What blood pressure counts as hypotension in anesthetized dogs and cats?
AAHA’s 2020 guidelines define hypotension as systolic pressure below roughly 80 to 90 mm Hg, or mean arterial pressure below roughly 60 to 70 mm Hg.
How often should I record vitals during anesthesia?
ACVA’s monitoring guidelines recommend recording monitored variables at a minimum every 5 to 10 minutes during anesthesia. Many practices record more often. Software that records automatically makes this easier.
Do I need to monitor patients in recovery?
Yes. ACVA recommends recording heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature in early recovery, and the CEPSAF study found that 47% of anesthetic-related deaths in dogs and 61% in cats happened after the procedure.
What’s the difference between mainstream and sidestream capnography?
Mainstream sensors sit at the breathing circuit connection, while sidestream systems draw a small sample of gas to the monitor. Bionet’s Dual Gas module is a sidestream analyzer.
Further reading:
- AAHA, 2020 AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
- American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, Monitoring Guidelines Update, 2009
- Veterinary Practice News, Anesthesia monitor considerations
