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Pause for Pets: Taking the worry out of anesthesia

By Maggie Wagner/Contributor

Most of our pets have been anesthetized for common procedures such as neutering, fox tail removal or wound repair. These procedures could not be done without the use of medications that allow patients to “sleep” during the procedure. Most of the medications used in veterinary medicine have been tested on humans prior to their use in veterinary hospitals and are very safe.

The choice of which type of drug to use depends on the condition of the patient and the procedure to be performed. Prior to anesthetizing any animal the veterinarian will do a physical exam of the pet. Often, blood work will be done to ensure that the liver and kidney are functioning properly. If lab results are abnormal, the doctor may decide to postpone the procedure until the condition is resolved or the anesthetic protocol will be changed to avoid further compromise of the pet.

The majority of animals will be given a tranquilizer prior to being anesthetized to lessen anxiety and to reduce the amount of anesthetic agent required. The tranquilizer is often administered with a pain reliever via injection.

Short procedures such as the removal of a foxtail from a dog’s ear or suturing a small wound will require a short-acting intravenous anesthetic agent. These drugs will last 15 to 20 minutes during which the pet cannot sense pain and does not move. They will gradually awaken over the next 20 minutes.

Longer procedures such as neuters, exploratories and orthopedic surgeries often start with the same intravenous agent to begin the anesthesia. After the pet is asleep a tube is placed into the trachea and this is attached to an anesthetic machine that delivers both oxygen and an anesthetic gas. The gas will keep the patient asleep until the procedure is complete and the gas is turned off.

While anesthetized, blood pressure, blood oxygen, heart rate and respiratory rate are monitored constantly. These parameters help the doctor assess how the pet is handling the anesthesia. The amount of anesthetic given to the patient must be the minimum amount necessary to prevent pain. In addition to the pain medication given with the tranquilizer another injection of a pain reliever may be given near the end of the procedure. Antibiotics and intravenous fluids may also be recommended for the anesthetized patient.

Many pet owners will let potentially harmful and correctable medical conditions remain untreated due to their fear of having their beloved friend anesthetized. There are always some risks when a patient is anesthetized, but modern veterinary drugs and monitoring equipment make the risks very low for most patients. It is important to understand all the options that are available to provide the care that you want for your friend.

Veterinarian Maggie Wagner is the owner of Nipomo Dog & Cat Hospital located at 525 Sandydale Drive. Contact the hospital at 929-2855 or visit nipomodogandcathospital.com.