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.
Can you describe a typical anesthesia?
All anesthesia patients are weighed on admission and are given a thorough pre-anesthetic examination. This includes an examination of the chest, palpation of the abdomen and assessment of the gums (checking for hydration status and evidence of good circulatory status. The medical history will be reviewed, and additional diagnostics such as blood or urine testing, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG) or x-rays may be performed prior to administration of any anesthetic drugs.
In the great majority of cases, a technique called balanced anesthesia is used. With balanced anesthesia, the patient receives a combination of sedatives and anesthetic agents that is based on body weight and best suited to the patients individual needs. The most common combination is a pre-anesthetic sedative and analgesic combination that is administered by injection, followed by an injectable induction agent that induces anesthesia. A breathing tube, called an endotracheal tube, is then inserted into the windpipe or trachea. The endotracheal tube is used to deliver anesthetic gas, mixed with oxygen, to keep the dog anesthetized. Additionally, the endotracheal tube seals off the airway so that the patient does not accidentally aspirate fluids or other foreign material while unconscious and unable to swallow.
Most veterinary practices do not have a board-certified anesthesiologist on staff; instead, anesthesia monitoring typically falls to a veterinary technician, who is supervised by the veterinarian. Vet techs can be certified in anesthesia management. Make sure to ask your veterinarian about who will be assisting with surgery, and if that person is board certified (in cases where the anesthetist is a veterinarian) or has received any specialized training in anesthesia administration (in cases where the anesthetist is a veterinary technician).
Like any medical procedure, anesthesia poses certain risks to your dog. Be sure it is employed wisely – and not just because it’s the path of least resistance. Owners who request that their dog be anesthetized for regular nail trimming, for example, might consider that behavioral modification and gradual desensitization would be a safer, and arguably more humane, approach.
Denise Flaim of Revodana Ridgebacks in Long Island, New York, shares her home with three Ridgebacks, teenaged triplets, and a very patient husband.
Your dog’s general state of health affects the chance that complications may develop, which is just common sense: A sick dog is at higher risk than a healthy one. Specific procedures also carry specific risks. For example, Dr. Clark-Price says, “a dog that is having a spay will have less risk than a dog having its spleen removed because of cancer.”
Because propofol works so smoothly and quickly – and can be reversed just as speedily – it is typically used to anesthetize a dog as a preparation for general anesthesia. Your vet is unlikely to use it alone during any major procedure.