Feb
2013
5 Myths About Veterinary Anesthesia
The other day at work we were doing a routine exam on a dog. During the oral exam the vet discovered a slab fracture on one of the dogs premolars, the most common type of tooth break in dogs.
Since the vet was unable to get a really good look at the tooth to determine the damage she recommended that the dog undergo a dental cleaning with the possibility of extracting the tooth.
The thought of putting the dog under anesthesia was a very scary thought for the owner and it actually brought her to tears when she was scheduling the surgery.
This is a common emotion that I see when pet owners are faced with putting their beloved pets under anesthesia, and for good reason.
Undergoing anesthesia can be scary for people as well as for pets and just like with people there is a risk when undergoing an anesthetic procedure, which is why you should discuss any concerns that you have with your veterinarian and also educate yourself about some common myths that are out there about anesthesia and your pet.
5 Myths About Veterinary Anesthesia
1. Myth: Anesthesia risks are common. Fact: Complications do occur but are rare. A well-trained veterinary team will take every reasonable precaution—including having a knowledgeable staff, appropriate patient monitoring procedures, and proper patient evaluation and preparation—to minimize these risks.
2. Myth: Certain anesthetic drugs can harm my pet. Fact: In most cases, monitoring a pet’s condition (for example, monitoring anesthetic depth, blood oxygenation, respiration, blood pressure, body temperature, and heart electrical activity) during a procedure is much more important than which drug protocol is selected. It’s more important for your veterinarian to tailor a protocol to each patient’s needs and provide an appropriate level of supportive care—seldom is one drug better or worse than others since they all have benefits and risks.
3. Myth: Most complications occur during a procedure when my pets is asleep. Fact: Almost half of anesthetic deaths occur after the delivery of anesthetic drugs during recovery. Ask your veterinarian for a rundown of how your pet will be cared for after a procedure and make sure you’re comfortable with that level of care.
4. Myth: Most veterinarians provide a similar level of anesthetic care and monitoring. Fact: Every veterinarian has a different way of doing things. Some may refer cases to or consult with a specialist for anesthetic procedures, while others may rely on their in-house team. If you have any questions or concerns, ask your veterinarian for details before your pet undergoes any anesthetic procedures, then make an informed decision about what’s best for your pet.
5. Myth: The internet is the most reliable source for information about potential anesthesia risks. Fact: While some sites offer reliable and useful information, plenty of others contain inconsistencies or flat-out falsities. So don’t be fooled by misinformation, which can spread quickly from website to website. Do your research on anesthesia and its potential—but rare—complications, then discuss your findings with your veterinarian to make sure you’re getting the most accurate picture. This will allow you to do what’s best for your pet—and perhaps rid your mind of a few unfounded fears.
Thanks to dvm360 for this great list!
As a pet owner putting my dogs under anesthesia comes with the same worries that many pet owners have but after assisting and watching hundreds of surgeries at work under our strict anesthesia protocol, I’ve often thought that these pets are safer under anesthesia than I may be.
So how about you? Do you have any concerns with your pets and anesthesia?
59 Comments on 5 Myths About Veterinary Anesthesia
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Victoria Elise Kichler
February 22, 2013 at 6:03 am (116 days ago)This is great for sharing & very true! As long as pets are monitored well even a complication can turn out okay. It’s very important for people to know this since simple procedures (such as dentals) are important and not as dangerous as many think.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 3:32 pm (115 days ago)It is so important for people to know. Complications happen in veterinary medicine too just like human medicine and as long as the pet is being carefully monitored all should be good in most cases.
tylersat99
February 22, 2013 at 7:09 am (116 days ago)Since we’re could never get Lexie with puppies after several tries we are going to have to spay here. Her seasons are becoming very hard on her and each one has a false pregnancy with her taking care of you puppies. At 7 putting her under and the surgery are really frightening me. Lexie has never been anesticized that I can remember.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 3:38 pm (115 days ago)I understand your fears. It makes me nervous too with Sherman and Leroy, but Plunger, my Beagle had a dental a few years ago and he was 12 at the time with a 5/6 heart murmur and he came through fine. He was carefully monitored and there were a few complications with a drop in his heart rate but the surgery techs where all over it. I think it’s normal for any of us to be nervous with our pets.
emma
February 22, 2013 at 7:44 am (116 days ago)Mom agrees with your list and she used to be the one giving the anesthesia for her vet friend in Germany, but it is still scary and we want to avoid it if possible. Sometimes for surgery or injury there is no option but then you have to have a vet that you really trust and most likely things will be fine. It is the same with humans but occasionally they don’t make it either…life, unfortunately.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 3:40 pm (115 days ago)Wow, Emma-I didn’t know your Mom worked at a vet clinic!
You’re so right, sometimes the minor risk of surgery outweighs the complications of certain injuries and illnesses. Having a vet that you trust is key!
Kimberly, The Fur Mom
February 22, 2013 at 9:35 am (116 days ago)Great information! I was worried about taking our cats in for a teeth cleaning, because of the risks. I found a product that is doing a great job cleaning their teeth so it may not be an issue, but it’s good to know that the truth about the risks.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 3:41 pm (115 days ago)Thanks Kimberly! That’s great that you found a product that is working well for your cats!
Elyse and Riley
February 22, 2013 at 9:41 am (116 days ago)Thanks for this! Riley has been under too many times to count (spay, X-rays, broken nails getting cut off, 2 knee surgeries, etc.), so it’s pretty routine for us. I do still worry every time though, so this helps put my mind at ease!
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:29 pm (115 days ago)Wow! Riley has been through a lot! Whew! So glad that all has gone well with her, maybe she’ll give you a break for a bit:)
Jodi
February 22, 2013 at 9:47 am (116 days ago)Are you kidding? I’m crying just reading this post. Sampson needs a dental cleaning and I am terrified. TERRIFIED. I wonder if I brought him to your vet if you would be there with him? Don’t laugh, I’m serious.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:33 pm (115 days ago)Are you going to make me come up there? Lol:) You could totally bring him to my vet and then we could have a sleepover, but from what you have said about your vet I’m sure they are great and Sampson will be in very good hands!
Roxy the traveling dog
February 22, 2013 at 10:14 am (116 days ago)Great info. I think sometimes the vets themselves are responsible for people freaking out. They give you a laundry list of all the things that can go wrong, that doesn’t help any.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:34 pm (115 days ago)This is a good point. Some vets need to learn how to explain things in a way that is not so complicated for owners to understand.
Two French Bulldogs
February 22, 2013 at 10:24 am (116 days ago)It is recommended to take precautions and use a certain kind with brachiocephalic breeds. Interesting
Benny & Lily
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:40 pm (115 days ago)It sure is and I’m sure you know all about that!
Sue at Talking Dogs
February 22, 2013 at 10:25 am (116 days ago)Great information! I particularly like #5. Too many folks rely on things they’ve read online for all kinds of decisions.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:41 pm (115 days ago)Thank you and I agree and I am guilty of it too!
Oz the Terrier
February 22, 2013 at 10:30 am (116 days ago)This is great information. Though people have concerns and/or fears they should not allow these concerns and fears to keep them from asking their vet questions about the procedures and care their animals will need. Thank you for “busting” some of the myths out there.
Oz
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:43 pm (115 days ago)Thanks Oz! This is so true and very common. It is so important to ask questions and ask them again if you don’t understand! I ask my vet tons of questions almost every day!
Michelle S
February 22, 2013 at 11:51 am (116 days ago)My 14 year old cat has been under anesthesia FIVE times in the past 3 months, and my nerves are completely shot! He just had his last surgery on Tuesday of this week.
1. Dental cleaning with 9 extractions.
2. Oral exam due to pain after surgery.
3. Dental x-rays with tooth fragment removal.
4. Removal of final 2 canine teeth
5. Removal of jaw bone fragment, and flaps to cover the holes from the canine teeth removal as they were collecting food particles and not healing properly.
My little dog needs a dental, so I’m beyond nervous!
Also, other than a specialist, I don’t know of a Vet around that uses such extensive monitoring as is noted in #2 above.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:48 pm (115 days ago)Oh wow. I’m sorry that your cat has had so many dental issues, my nerves would be shot too! I hope he is doing well and his surgeries are all over!
The clinic where I work uses all of the monitoring mentioned in #2 and we are not a specialty clinic. It really depends on the clinic and what their protocols are.
Kristine
February 22, 2013 at 1:58 pm (116 days ago)This is a great list and I am so glad you shared it! A friend of mine’s dog was given anesthesia this week for a similar reason and my friend was beside herself with worry. I didn’t realize that most of the issues occur during the dog’s recovery and I hope all is okay with little Ziva.
We can’t be too informed when it comes to the health of our pets. But I agree that the Internet may not be the best place to get this information, especially when in an emotional state!
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:51 pm (115 days ago)Thanks Kristine! A lot of people don’t realize that there are risks during recovery which is why it is so important that there is someone there monitoring the pet. I hope all is well with your friends dog!
As far as the internet thing, guilty of it and I agree it is not place for an emotional person to be at!
Leslie
February 22, 2013 at 3:40 pm (115 days ago)This is a great list and should be reassuring to folks who worry (like Jodi, oh and me.)
I never worried about Beau when he had to go under but the one time so far we had Bella under, I was a nervous wreck and pretty much sick to my stomach until she was back at home with us again. She is very, VERY sensitive to meds so the vets gave her some different type of anesthesia and I really appreciated them taking our concerns seriously. But still, I don’t think I’ll ever be as comfortable with Bella during procedures as I was with Beau.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:02 pm (115 days ago)Thanks Leslie!
I totally understand where you are coming from and I feel the same way with Sherman as you feel with Beau. Sherman just seems more sensitive in general to certain things and I have discussed this with my vet and even though I have no medical proof she has always taken into consideration my concerns which always puts me at ease a bit more.
Kolchak, Felix & Jodi
February 22, 2013 at 4:55 pm (115 days ago)When Kolchak was a puppy, our OLD vet (that I’ve since learned has a terrible local reputation for ignoring health issues in mixed breeds)told me not to worry about his snarfy/coughy/gaggy breathing for like 6 months telling me “what did I expect from a pug cross? You get what you get”. Finally one night he could barely breathe and we took him to the ER vet who was horrified that our dog had such a serious case of kennel cough that had been left untreated for so long. We treated it and cleared it, but his poor little lungs never really recovered properly. The jury is our with out new vets as to how he’d do with anasthesia, so we’ve chosen not to risk it, but I think it’s safe to say the thought of putting him under makes me incredibly nervous.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:05 pm (115 days ago)That’s so sad Jodi! I’m sorry Kolchak went through that! Poor Koly! So glad that it finally cleared with proper treatment, but the damage had been done. I’m sure that if he ever has to go under your vet will take special precautions and he will be in good hands, but I understand your concerns.
Dawn
February 22, 2013 at 5:12 pm (115 days ago)Great information. Thanks for sharing! I, too, hate the thought of having to put my dogs under anesthesia. But then again, I hate the thought of me having to undergo it too.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:06 pm (115 days ago)Thanks Dawn! It scares me whenever I go under too!
dawn
February 22, 2013 at 6:21 pm (115 days ago)Great list Jen! Having worked in vet clinics for a number of years, I’ve seen few complications so feel more comfortable with having one of my critters anesthetized although I still worry especially for my non-dog and cat pets as they are much more prone to complications.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:08 pm (115 days ago)Yes! The complications are few and far between here too, and I totally hear you on the exotics and pocket pets which is why, even though I’m sure he would be fine, Gibby will hopefully never go under, although we have done several procedures on guinea pigs and last week we did one on a hamster and he was just fine!
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 7:14 pm (115 days ago)Fantastic list, thanks for sharing!
The most recent time Elka was anesthetized (2 years ago, when she had X-rays after breaking her toe, even though the initial when-she-was-conscious X-ray turned out to be the correct diagnosis and we didn’t do a cast or anything so she didn’t need it anyway arg), I felt that she was over anesthetized. She was loopy and unhappy when I came to take her home, and she ended up wetting our bed while sleeping with my fiance, the poor thing (I mean Elka, but really, both of them. She’s only ever peed on him). It’s something I intend to discuss more fully with the vet prior to deciding on it the next time, to be sure, if there is a next time.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:14 pm (115 days ago)Was Elka put under anesthesia or was she sedated? Just being curious because pets can react differently to sedation vs anesthesia but….I know what you are saying because this has happened with Sherman before and the next time he had to be sedated we used a different kind of medication. Leroy on the other hand has always been fine with sedation.
2 brown dawgs
February 22, 2013 at 7:41 pm (115 days ago)Excellent information. I don’t worry about anesthesia with my healthy dogs. However, the next time she needs to be put under, I do plan to mention to the vet how dopey Storm was after she had anesthesia for her gum surgery.
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:17 pm (115 days ago)Its a good thing to mention. Every dog is different and some react differently. Certain sedation seems to effect Sherman more than Leroy so we have adjusted that for Sherman.
jan
February 22, 2013 at 8:18 pm (115 days ago)Dental cleaning day is the worst day of the year for me. And it doesn’t help when they tell me there are two prices for the anesthesia, the regular one and the more expensive one recommended for older and smaller dogs. Can I really opt for a cheaper one and not feel guilty?
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:19 pm (115 days ago)Sorry that it’s the worst day of the year for Jan!
Haha-we have that too. Senior pets cost more to go under because they probably follow a different protocol.
Bebe
February 22, 2013 at 8:21 pm (115 days ago)Great points for those who are nervous…I have never had to but I am sure I would be uneasy!
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:20 pm (115 days ago)Thank you! I think it’s normal to feel a bit uneasy!
Julie
February 22, 2013 at 10:13 pm (115 days ago)When Cali had her tooth pulled this last year, she was under for SIX hours – I was a total mess. She came out of it just fine, I think I was the one that was the worse for the wear. It can be very stressful, especially when your pet is considered a senior, but good communication with your vet is key. When I had surgery last year, I made sure that they knew that anesthesia makes me really sick afterwards, and they took the appropriate precautions to make sure that I handled the anesthesia well- it was much better for me and my hubby
We definitely need to be proactive!
Jen
February 22, 2013 at 11:21 pm (115 days ago)Wow! 6 hours, that is a long time and I would of been a total mess too! Glad Callie came through just fine!
Good communication and being proactive is key!
Jana Rade
February 23, 2013 at 1:16 am (115 days ago)Great list! I would just like to add that not all anesthetic drugs and protocols are created equal. There are safer and less safe ways of doing things. Anesthesia related cost makes up a good chunk of our vet bills because our vet, even though he’s running a small town clinic, always keeps up with the best, safest and most effective anesthesia protocols and pain management. Those are things one does not want to save money on.
Jen
February 24, 2013 at 10:58 pm (113 days ago)Thanks Jana and thank you for adding that. It is so true. Some things are not safe to skip just to save a few dollars, I couldn’t agree more and all clinics do not have the same protocol so it’s a good idea to be familiar with what your vet offers and why.
Elizabeth
February 23, 2013 at 1:36 am (115 days ago)Great list, and so true that the Dr knows more than the internet! Both dogs have been put under – both for spaying as pups, and another for when Luna had a dental cleaning and growth removal. I have also been put under, and although I have never had any fear of anesthetic drugs, I know it can be scary for some people.
Jen
February 24, 2013 at 11:00 pm (113 days ago)Thanks Dawn. I think I’m more concerned when a family member goes under anesthesia than I am for myself.
24 Paws of Love
February 23, 2013 at 1:59 am (115 days ago)Thank you so much for sharing Jen. Although I know complications are rare, I have a friend that’s vet and she put a kitten under to have her declawed and she never woke up. I have a hard time not thinking about that when we’ve had to do it. It’s still scary, even with the facts.
Jen
February 24, 2013 at 11:01 pm (113 days ago)Aw, I’m so sorry to hear that. That is very sad:(
bichonpawz
February 24, 2013 at 5:20 am (114 days ago)Agreed…even with the facts,it is still very scary.
Jen
February 24, 2013 at 11:01 pm (113 days ago)It can be scary, but hopefully knowing a few facts can help a little?:)
Nichole
February 24, 2013 at 1:51 pm (114 days ago)Great post! I was more freaked out about putting Lola under for those 2 biopsies recently than I was over the lumps all over her body!
Jen
February 24, 2013 at 11:02 pm (113 days ago)I hear you, but the good thing is that Lola was just fine for both procedures, even when she wasn’t at 100%! I bet your vet was very careful with her.
urban hounds
February 25, 2013 at 5:42 am (113 days ago)I worry a lot about anesthesia with my flat face dogs in particular and I always ask many questions. I make sure my vet uses Isoflorane and ketamine and keeps them intubated and on fluids. I always talk to the vet a lot before a procedure and if I have any concerns about the length or complication of a procedure we go to a specialist. I am looking into non anesthestic dental now for Tubby as he has one tooth with a bit of plaque on it and I dont want to do anesthesia for one tooth that is not severely damaged my vet supports at least trying it I have found a vet hospital near me that does do it
urban hounds
Jen
February 26, 2013 at 9:08 am (112 days ago)It’s so good to ask questions and it’s great that your vet takes the time to talk to you about your concerns!
Flea
February 25, 2013 at 11:54 am (113 days ago)None of my pets have ever been anesthetized, but I do worry about it with my people. This is a great list. I’m guessing it crosses over to humans as well, with the same types of questions I should ask of my doctor prior to surgeries. Thank you!
Jen
February 26, 2013 at 9:10 am (112 days ago)Thanks Flea!
I’m not sure about the human side of it, but I would guess that the list would be similiar.
melF
February 26, 2013 at 7:47 am (112 days ago)Great list Jen. I had heard that most complications occur in recovery too. I always like that my vet does a blood test first before planning the surgery.
I am always nervous when an older dog undergoes anesthesia just because it is harder on them.
Most of all, I think we just hate seeing our best friend looking all lethargic and sad. That’s the hard part.
Jen
February 26, 2013 at 9:12 am (112 days ago)Thanks Mel.
It is so hard to see them looking lethargic and sad but with most I’m just glad they’re only like that for a little while.