How Dogs and Other Pets May Act Post-Anesthesia
The medications used to put a dog “under” can have a lasting effect on your dog (or other pet), potentially for several days after treatment.
First, the body’s ability to control temperature can be greatly affected by anesthesia. Your dog may suddenly be hot or cold regardless of the temperature. So, you may see panting, shivering, or other signs that your dog is comfortable. It is smart to keep your companion in a slightly warm (but not hot!) room.
Your pet may also feel groggy and tired even hours after the operation is performed. Do not worry, being sleepy is normal. Sometimes, an animal will seem fully alert after surgery, and then suddenly tired. Delayed reactions are common. Your dog may also be less responsive to commands and stimuli (such as other pets).
Anesthesia affects the nervous system. Your dog, cat, or other pet may have trouble walking or standing after being put under. This is normal and typically wears off within a few days. Lending your dog a hand and showing him or her to their favorite spot to stretch out is wise once you get home.
Anesthesia can cause nausea and may result in vomiting. A little bit of vomiting for a few days after the procedure is typically nothing to worry about (unless you see other warning signs, such as blood in vomit). Loss of appetite may also occur.
Your pet seems very sleepy, is this normal?
The general anaesthetic and/or sedative can take a number of hours to wear off and in some cases can cause patients to appear drowsy for a day or so. Over the next day or two their behaviour should return to normal.
Why do I have to sign an anesthetic consent form?
It is important that you fully understand what will happen to your dog, and that you acknowledge that you understand the risks associated with anesthesia. Usually, the form will also include consent to perform surgery or other specified diagnostic testing, and will provide an estimate of the expected costs of the procedures. In many areas, the veterinarian is required by their regulatory organization to obtain written consent from the client prior to performing anesthetic procedures.
What to Expect After General Anesthesia
At some point in your dog’s life, there may come a day where anesthesia is required because a surgical procedure has become necessary. Anesthesia is comprised of certain drugs used to help depress the nervous system of your dog so that they are calm, sedated, and pain-free during their procedure. Note that when a dog requires general anesthesia, it means they will actually be unconscious for a period of time and unaware of their surroundings.
Though general anesthesia is necessary, it can be disconcerting to see your dog unconscious, and there are dog anesthesia side effects. However, more often than not, the benefits outweigh the risks, and anesthesia is a necessary component to helping ensure your dog feels no pain and that his muscles stay relaxed and lax. Dog anesthesia helps keep your canine from fighting against a potentially life-saving procedure or a procedure that will improve his quality of life.
Thankfully, veterinary medicine has grown over the years and the anesthetic agents that are used today are both predictable as well as reversible because of the improvements that have been made to them. That means that the risk of dog anesthetic side effects has gone down considerably in today’s practice of vet medicine.
Note that there are other types of anesthesia as well, such as local anesthesia which is often used on the skin or in the mouth during dental work, and spinal anesthesia, used to create a lack of sensation in a certain part of the body. There are less dog anesthesia side effects to these agents, but they aren’t the same thing as putting a dog under general anesthesia to undergo surgery.