Anesthesia and Your pet

Everyday veterinarians hear questions and concerns from owners regarding anesthesia. Usually it's a caring animal lover worrying about the risks when their dog "goes under" and needing reassurance that they will be safe from side effects. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about anesthesia out there, and today I want to clear up a few.

First, let's talk about the term in general. Anesthesia means "the total loss of feeling or sensation." It is primarily associated with the loss of painful sensations, which allows surgery or procedures to be performed without causing pain. There are several different types of anesthesia including local anesthesia, which renders a specific area of tissue or part of the body insensitive to pain or sensation, and general anesthesia, which causes complete unconsciousness and relaxation of the entire body as well as a loss of painful sensation.

That brings us to our next topic: the misconceptions surrounding anesthesia. This procedure is frequently misunderstood and can cause a lot of concern for well-meaning owners. Here are some common myths that I would like to de bunk.

5 Common Anesthesia Myths

Fiction #1: Death is common.

Fact: Everyone seems to know someone whose dog died under anesthesia - a neighbor, a relative, a friend... but for normal, healthy dogs, multiple studies have concluded that the risk of death with today's veterinary medicine is only about one in two thousand. Even if certain pre-existing diseases are a factor, the risk of death is still a relatively low one in five hundred. Identifying risk factors with pre-operative screening and monitoring and minimizing them with excellent monitoring tools and practices is what we do on a daily basis.

Fiction #2: My dog (or her breed) is sensitive to anesthesia.

Fact: While some breeds do have certain sensitivities to specific drugs, these are uncommon. In fact, in most cases, monitoring a dog's condition (anesthetic depth, blood oxygen level, respiration, blood pressure, body temperature and heart electrical activity) throughout an anesthetic procedure is far more important than which drug is selected.

Moreover, most veterinarians are already in the habit of tailoring an anesthetic protocol to each patient's needs. We well know that in the anesthesia world, one size does not fit all.

Fiction #3: Most complications happen while dogs are asleep.

Fact: The truth is that almost half of anesthetic deaths occur after anesthesia. During recovery is when dogs most need attention. So if you want to be sure your dog is as safe as possible, always ask your veterinarian how your dog will be cared for after a procedure.

Fiction #4: Most veterinarians provide a similar level of anesthetic care and monitoring.

Fact: Every veterinarian has a different way of doing things. Some use lots of monitoring tools, hire more heavily schooled staff, and have a higher staff to patient ratio. You'll pay more in these cases... but it's worth it for those who seek to minimize their dog's risk as much as possible.

Fiction #5: The Internet is the most reliable source for information about potential anesthesia risks.

Fact: Most information online is JUST PLAIN WRONG. Why would it be any different when it comes to information about your dog's anesthesia? Your vet is always the ideal source of information about your dog's specific needs. And if you don't trust your vet on the subject of anesthesia for your dog... you clearly need another one.

Note: Always ask your veterinarian for details before your dog undergoes any anesthetic procedures, and then make an informed decision about what's best for your dog.

Remember: It's YOUR dog. YOU have the final say. And you deserve to be comfortable with your dog's healthcare - or at least as comfortable as you can be.

If you have questions regarding anesthesia please contact dr. Norette L. Underwood of Trumann Animal Clinic and Best Friends Vet Mobile service at catdoc56@gmail.com.