Learning More About Dog Anesthesia at Highland Veterinary Center
Dr. Griffin, is anesthesia safe for dogs?
Anesthesia is generally very safe for dogs. We definitely take proper precautions prior to anesthetizing any patient, which includes a physical examination to listen to the heart and lungs and to check for other underlying disease conditions. We also conduct presurgical blood work to ensure the organs are healthy enough to metabolize the anesthetic drugs. Once our patient is under anesthesia, we monitor them very closely with state-of-the-art equipment. Our monitoring is done by a licensed veterinary technician, which gives us the best opportunity for a safe and favorable outcome.
What types of procedures would anesthesia for dogs be used for?
Anesthesia is used for a variety of procedures in veterinary medicine. The most common reasons we use it here include surgeries such as spays and neuters, more complicated surgeries like foreign body removal or bladder stone removal, and dental procedures.
Are there certain dogs that should not undergo anesthesia?
There are definitely dogs with certain disease conditions that make anesthesia higher risk. For those dogs, we either take additional precautions or critically assess the need for anesthesia.
What are some possible complications of anesthesia that my dog could experience?
Some common complications during anesthesia include a low or high heart rate, low or high blood pressure, and insufficient breathing, which can increase carbon dioxide levels. These are detected via our anesthetic monitoring, allowing us to intervene when necessary. The same issues can occur during anesthetic recovery, which is why we monitor our patients until they're fully awake and their vitals are normal.
What can be done to reduce the risk associated with anesthesia for dogs?
The most important step to reduce anesthesia risk is a thorough physical exam and pre-operative blood work. This helps us identify any heart disease, kidney disease, or other organ function issues that might affect patient management and recovery.
Are there any differences in dog sedation versus anesthesia?
Definitely. The biggest difference between sedation and anesthesia is the use of an inhaled anesthetic agent. Sedation means the dog can be lightly or heavily sedated but is not intubated, meaning there is no endotracheal tube in their airway to deliver oxygen and inhaled anesthesia. The need for sedation or anesthesia depends on the procedure, as well as the patient's demeanor, age, and pre-existing conditions.
How do you monitor a dog under anesthesia?
We monitor a patient under anesthesia using a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs, and correlate this with vital parameters from our anesthetic monitoring equipment. Our equipment monitors heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO2, and systolic blood pressure. These parameters, along with ECG, provide a comprehensive overview of the patient's status while asleep. This, combined with observations from our technician and veterinarian, helps us maintain a close watch on the patient.
What does the recovery process from anesthesia look like for my dog?
The recovery process immediately following anesthesia generally lasts from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the procedure length, patient age, and health status. Healthy patients usually recover quickly and act normally by the time they go home, which can be challenging for owners since they should be resting. Older or sicker patients may be quieter and take a couple of days to return to normal.
If my dog is acting weird after anesthesia, what should I do?
If your dog acts weird after anesthesia or doesn't recover as expected, we encourage you to reach out and ask. Every patient is different, and sometimes there are varied reactions to anesthetic drugs. Contact your veterinary team for clarification. You can also use emergency clinics after hours if needed. In Chattanooga, we are fortunate to have three 24-hour emergency referral facilities available to answer questions.
Can anesthesia affect my dog's long-term health?
Typically, no. Most of the time, a short, well-monitored anesthetic event does not have long-term implications on your pet's health.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (423) 922-7702, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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