One of the biggest fears pet owners have is anesthetizing their pets. Here is what I told a reader.
Q: My dog needs to have her teeth cleaned under anesthesia, and I’m so nervous. Is it really safe?
A: No anesthetic procedure, medication or even natural remedy can have a 100% guarantee of safety, but the anesthesia protocols veterinarians use now with pets have substantially reduced the risks, even with pets who are seniors or who have chronic illnesses.
Today’s techniques emphasize safety and comfort before, during and after anesthesia. They include pre-op testing to ensure that pets don’t have any underlying conditions that could cause problems; monitoring by specially trained veterinary technicians; and improved anesthesia drugs and techniques.
Modern anesthesia involves an individualized combination of injectable medications (that often combine anesthetic drugs and pain medication), anesthesia-inducing gas and oxygen, all of which contribute to your pet’s safety and well-being.
Use of intravenous fluids helps to maintain blood pressure and hydration, as well as flush the anesthetic from the body after the procedure is completed. And having an IV line in place allows the veterinarian to react rapidly with appropriate medication if there’s an emergency. Warming procedures such as heated towels or pads — to maintain core body temperature, prevent organ damage and allow your pet to recover more smoothly — are another safety and comfort measure.
You can take steps on your end to protect your pet by following your veterinarian’s directions not to feed your pet or give water after midnight prior to the procedure. That helps to prevent aspiration of food into the lungs during the procedure, which can have serious consequences. If you forget, always let your veterinarian know so they can either make allowances or reschedule the procedure.
While there can always be some risk with anesthesia, don’t let your fears keep you from providing your dog with treatment that can dramatically improve her quality of life. You’ll both be happier. Learn more here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/pet-experiencing-dental-pain-how-to-know-and-what-to-do-about-it.
There’s more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.
