Sedation can effect the images obtained especially measurements in echocardiography, but also surprising effects such as gall bladder wall oedema. Therefore the need for sedation has to be balanced with the needs of the pet. A stressed animal is an unhappy animal, which makes getting images harder (wriggling and panting) and lowers the image quality affecting the information I can glean from the examination. I ascribe to Fear Free handling concepts and believe sedation should be not be with-held when fear, anxiety and stress of our patients is present. Cats often need some level of sedation to even allow clipping.