When I picked up Fudge from being neutered, he was jumping all over the place (as Lab puppies are wont to do). The VA remarked, "You wouldn't believe he was on the table just 2 hours ago...."

He was, and is, fine. ....and still jumping all over the place.
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Doc

There are two major ways to anesthesize animals for surgery.

In the cat world this is a controversy. The cat specialists mostly all use inhaled gas (I don't know the name), which wears off very quickly with no side effects. The animal can go home same day as a rule with no complications.

The other way is injectable drugs which linger and cause alot of groggy behavior. The Vets using this type typically keep the animal overnight, so they won't hurt themselves. My late cat Tippy had tooth work done, with this type several years ago and was released same day... she tried to jump thru the glass of a closed window at home she was so confused.

The cat only place I am going to now, only uses the gas. They claim it is safer all around for animals. I chose to go there this time because Weez can come home and not have to stay overnight, which would be a bigger stressor for her than the surgery itself, IMO. She is very timid and afraid of everything.

If you watch science programs on TV that have vets, you can most often see them using gas.

She was given a little local anestetic and then gassed. She doesn't seem to be in any pain just recovering. She is doing what I want to be doing, laying around. Thanks for all your words of encouragement. It's nice to hear stories of reassurement and know others who have gone through this with their pets. i used to think that people who treated their pets like family members were weird but now I understand.
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It often depends on the procedure & length of same. Both methods may involve both injections and intubation (which may administer gas/es or just oxygen/air to keep the airways open & working).

Around here, for spays/neutering, they usually use an injected dissociative anesthetic followed with IV and/or a gas mixture....

Yup, sometimes ya gotta keep an eye on the little guys. OTOH, it can be a bit humorous/entertaining watching/helping them come out of it.
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Doc