Anesthesia
One of the things I love most about veterinary medicine is that every day presents a new challenge; no two days are the same. However, there are some resounding themes every day. Almost daily I have a conversation with a client about their pet needing anesthesia. Naturally, owners are often concerned about their pets having anesthesia and need to understand what is going to happen to their pet. There is a common thread of questions and concerns pet owners will often share with me.
What are the risks?
There is always some risk associated with anesthesia. However, there are many ways to decrease the risks by taking the proper precautions. A thorough physical exam, paying special attention to the heart and lungs, to evaluate your pet’s health prior to the procedure is most important. In addition, there have been many advances in the anesthetics we use and knowledge of using them in a manner to make procedures safer. So the risk of anesthesia today is considerably lower then just a few years ago.
What precautions will you take?
There are many different things that can be done to decrease risks associated with anesthesia. Blood tests prior to anesthesia evaluate kidney and liver function telling us if the pet is able to metabolize the anesthesia, and if there are enough red blood cells to carry oxygen during anesthesia. Sometimes the test results will change the anesthetic protocol used or we may decide to treat a problem we find and reschedule the anesthesia.
Placing an i.v. catheter also has multiple benefits. First, it supplies access to the vein to give the injection to put the pet under anesthesia. Secondly, we are able to give fluids during the procedure to maintain hydration and blood pressure. Lastly, in case of any emergency, we are able to quickly give any medication into the vein.
Maintaining body temperature with a circulating warm water pad or heated surgery table decreases the amount of stress to your pet during the procedure.
Monitoring during the procedure is also very important. State of the art veterinary anesthetic monitors are comparable to human monitors. EKG, heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, body temperature, respiration rate and carbon dioxide levels in the breath can all be measured to evaluate your pet’s status during the procedure.
The most important monitor however is a trained licensed technician who will observe the pet’s status during the procedure and recovery and is able to react to any changes in the pet’s status.
Isn’t my pet too old?
I hear this all the time, and it is certainly a valid concern. In each case I feel it is important to compare the risks vs. benefits. For instance, if your pet has severe dental disease with infection, that is not healthy for your pet and decreases his quality of life. If his physical exam and blood work are normal, he is still a fine candidate for anesthesia. Many older pets have heart or kidney disease. That does not automatically disqualify them from anesthesia. Steps can be taken to decrease the risks, such as chest x-rays, cardiologists consult and recommendations for anesthesia and pre operative fluid therapy. I can’t count how many owners tell me how their older pet started acting younger after having their teeth cleaned so the benefit can be huge.
What happens to my pet?
It depends on the exact procedure your pet is going to have performed. Quick procedures may only require a short acting injection, longer more complicated procedures require gas anesthesia. For most procedures, it is necessary to withhold food the night before the procedure. The pet is admitted the morning of the procedure. The vet performing the procedure will examine the pet to make sure it is healthy for the procedure. Any testing that is required will be done at that time also. Next, an i.v. catheter will be placed if necessary and the pet will be sedated. Once it is time for the pet’s procedure, an injection will be given to cause the pet to become anesthetized. For most procedures, the pet will also have a tube inserted into the airway and be placed on a gas anesthetic. After the procedure is completed, a technician will recover your pet, making sure your pet is safe and comfortable during the recovery. Then your pet will rest, being monitored as needed, until it is ready to be discharged.
How will my pet act like after anesthesia, is there any special care once I get my pet home?
Some pets will feel groggy and may be a little nauseous. It is very important to keep them in an area where they will be safe and comfortable. If the pet goes home the same day of the procedure, limiting water and food for the first night is often a good idea. Keeping the pet indoors for at least the first night is also a good idea, and maybe longer depending on the procedure. Some pets may act drowsy and depressed for a day or so, but it is amazing how most pets bounce right back and act like nothing happened.
I hope this helps anyone whose pet needs an anesthetic procedure. Remember, each veterinary clinic is a little different, so make sure to discuss anesthesia with your veterinarian prior to your pet’s procedure. As usual, feel free to e-mail me with any additional questions and/or comments you may have mcaviness@wildernessvet.com.
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