Anesthesia for electrochemotherapy in dogs and cats: a mini-review of current practices and future considerations

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a short, minimally invasive procedure that causes mild to moderate pain. In humans, ECT can often be performed under sedation and local anesthesia, whereas general anesthesia is generally preferred in veterinary medicine. Anesthesia of dogs and cats undergoing ECT can be challenging because of altered clinical status, paraneoplastic syndromes, and concurrent chronic comorbidities. Recent evidence suggests that anesthetic and analgesic agents, particularly opioids, may modulate antitumor immune responses and potentially influence oncological outcomes, although the clinical relevance of these effects requires further investigation. Effective peri-procedural pain management is essential for patient recovery and welfare, and opioid-free or opioid-sparing strategies incorporating locoregional anesthesia may reduce opioid requirements while providing effective analgesia. The growing clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of ECT in veterinary oncology highlights the need for updated patient-tailored anesthetic and analgesic protocols. Moreover, it supports the potential of ECT as a useful research model for investigating tumor–anesthesia interactions, with translational relevance to human oncology. This mini-review summarizes current practices and practical considerations in veterinary onco-anesthesia and identifies priorities for future research.