A local anesthetic causes a loss of sensation when injected or applied to a ‘local’ area. Some small surgical or diagnostic procedures may require a local anesthetic to perform. For example, suturing a small skin laceration may require only gentle restraint and a local anesthetic. Skin biopsies (a biopsy is the surgical removal of a small portion of tissue) is a common diagnostic procedure where local anesthetic alone can be used to control pain. At Centennial Animal Hospital, we frequently administer local anesthetics to patients under general anesthesia, as we feel that this can dramatically improve post-operative comfort.