Are you making decisions about your pet's health without understanding the risks and the benefits? In the case of anesthesia, too many people still cling to some outdated ideas, to the detriment of their pet's overall health and longevity. This is certainly true when the topic is anesthesia for dogs and cats.
The idea that the risk of anesthesia outweighs the benefits of available veterinary care -- even preventive care, such as dentistry -- is no longer true for many pets. While no surgical procedure is without risk, anesthesia has become routine and safe in the hands of the best veterinarians and their staffs, with risks so low they should not dissuade you from pursuing necessary preventive or other procedures, even for elderly dogs and cats.
What risks remain can be greatly minimized by working with your veterinarian. Before any procedure, your veterinarian may suggest taking a medical history, examining your pet thoroughly and ordering a few basic tests, including a laboratory evaluation of blood and urine, and possibly a chest X-ray. Although these tests add to the cost, they enable your veterinarian to understand fully the health status of your pet before anesthetizing him. During anesthesia, an IV catheter and fluids can further add to the safety levels.
The benefits of these tests and precautionary measures may be hard for many to recognize, although they'd surely demand them from their own doctors. Such tests spot problems that may need to be dealt with before surgery, or clue in your veterinarian to specific risk factors during surgery. Additional measures during anesthesia give your veterinarian more options for care should a problem develop.
No discussion of anesthetic danger can be complete without a few words on your responsibilities where anesthesia is concerned:
-- Follow your veterinarian's instructions on preparing your pet for surgery. If "no food" is specified, make sure that you deliver your pet with an empty stomach. Following this one piece of advice is one of the easiest and most basic ways to reduce risk. During anesthesia, the contents of a full stomach can be regurgitated and inhaled into the lungs. In general, you should completely withhold food the night before, but continue to allow free access to water until the morning of the procedure.
-- Be prepared to provide special home care for your pet after surgery. Releasing animals before sedation wears off fully may be common practice for some veterinarians. Such animals must be kept safe from hot or cold environments because their reflexes are reduced. If you do not feel comfortable caring for a sedated pet, arrange for your veterinarian to extend the care. If your veterinarian does not run a 24-hour hospital, be sure to have the number of your local emergency clinic handy in case there are any complications following your pet's anesthesia.
-- Don't hesitate to ask questions. Make sure you understand what the procedures are and what to expect. Pets commonly have a cough after anesthesia, for example, because the tube used to deliver the gas may cause some irritation. If the cough does not clear up in a couple days, call your veterinarian.
No matter what the age of your dog or cat, the chances are very high that anesthesia presents no problem if both you and your veterinarian work to minimize the risk. And the payoffs can be significant in enhancing and prolonging the life of your pet.
A final note: While anesthesia for dogs and cats is generally very safe, such is not the case for other pets, such as rabbits. Dr. Stuart Turner, veterinary director of the Pet Care Forum on America Online, is a die-hard rabbit fancier who has been caring for these gentle pets for years. He suggests dealing with veterinarians who are comfortable and familiar with small mammals and exotic pets, discussing any risks beforehand and following the veterinarian's recommendations for reducing the possibility of problems.
PETS ON THE WEB: A good source for pet health information is NetVet Veterinary Resources (http://netvet.wustl.edu/). This site contains links to every imaginable veterinary resource on the Internet, and although its organization is a little unwieldy, it's definitely the best starting site for veterinary information on the Web. If you're looking for a veterinarian, whether general care or a specialist, visit the Veterinary Information Network's VetQuest site (www.vetquest.com), a free search service offering listing more than 25,000 veterinary clinics and hospitals worldwide.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.
4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600