Pet Partners- Anesthesia Information
The following information will hopefully answer any questions you may have about anesthesia. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the clinic before your scheduled appointment.
What type of anesthesia will my pet receive for their surgery or dental procedure?
Unless discussed otherwise, your pet will be given a “general anesthetic” which means they will be fully asleep or unconscious during the procedure and unable to feel pain.
What will be done to my pet before, during, and after surgery to help provide a safe anesthetic event?
You will be given instructions on the fasting period and if any medications should be given before arriving on your appointment day. Please let us know if your pet ate or drank during the scheduled fasting period. Fasting periods will vary depending on the age and condition of your pet and the type of procedure planned.
Your pet will be examined by the attending technician at drop-off and by the attending veterinarian before any drugs are given. You will be called to discuss options if the examination or chosen pre-anesthetic testing reveals any concerns. During surgery/dentals your pet will be given intravenous fluids, hooked up to heart, blood pressure, oxygen and carbon dioxide monitors, and have their temperature checked. After the procedure they will be continued to be monitored until able to return home.
What drugs will be given?
Multiple drugs will likely be given to your pet to alleviate anxiety and nausea before surgery, to provide unconsciousness and allow placement of a tube into their trachea for the delivery of oxygen and gas anesthetics, to maintain a stable level of pain-free unconsciousness during surgery, and to help diminish pain after surgery.
The drugs given will change over time based on safety data information, the development of newer/safer drugs, availability, and cost.
What determines which drugs will be given?
The species, breed, age, weight, past known history with drugs and vaccines (in your pet or any relatives of your pet), present condition, type and expected length of procedure, and the results of any chosen pre-anesthetic testing will help the veterinarian determine which drugs to use.
What are the risks of general anesthesia?
As with other drugs, anesthetic drugs also have side effects. These effects can range from mild to catastrophic. A normal or favorable response to anesthetic drugs requires normal functioning of all major organs and no allergic reactions to the anesthetic drugs.
Mild undesired side effects: prolonged grogginess, nausea and vomiting after surgery
Moderately undesired side effects: rash/bruising/infection at the intravenous needle site; a mild allergic reaction resulting in hives or facial swelling; a TEMPORARY abnormal change in body temperature, respirations, heart beat, eyesight, or functioning of major organs, or PERMANENT blindness, change in mental function/ behavior
Catastrophic: anaphylactic shock, permanent loss of major organ function, DEATH
Why do some animals have adverse reactions to routinely used anesthetic drugs?
Some pets, just like some people have underlying diseases with major organs that cannot be detected with a physical examination or routine laboratory testing. Non-routine testing of blood and internal organs may be recommended if your pet (or a relative of your pet) has had a history of previous problems with drugs or vaccines or a suspected problem based on exam findings. And some pets just like some people, will have allergic reactions or will be overly sensitive to the usual recommended drug dosages.
How frequently do anesthetic complications and death typically occur?
Statistics are hard to come by since the reporting of anesthetic complications and death are not required. Retrospective studies (1-6) reveal complication rates of 1-2% and death rates averaging 0.1-0.3% in cats and dogs, 1.39% for rabbits. (Rabbit death percentages are theorized to be higher due to multiple factors such as smaller body size, faster metabolism, and being a “species of prey” which can potentially complicate normal anesthesia due to hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and stress.)
How many anesthetic procedures have been performed at Pet Partners and what is the percentage of anesthetic deaths?
From 2001-2023, we have anesthetized 30,068 cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, and one goat. Ten (or 0.033%) of these pets went into respiratory arrest and survived. Sadly, 40 (0.13%) of these pets did not survive. These numbers include sick, injured, and feral animals. (For rabbit statistics only: 672 anesthetized, 6 deaths including one wild and two sick rabbits, 0.89% mortality).
What will happen, if in the rare event, my pet has complications or stops breathing or their heartbeat ceases during anesthesia?
Your pet will be given emergency drugs, assisted respirations, and if needed, chest compressions. We will continue emergency treatment as long as there is a discernable and viable response or for a 15-minute period AFTER no detectable independent respiration or heartbeat (“flatline”) is confirmed. This period is to allow enough time for emergency drugs and IV fluids to possibly work.
The attending veterinarian will notify you as soon as they are able.
Is there a charge for emergency drugs and emergency care?
Unfortunately, yes (and yes, we know that this may seem as though it is adding insult to injury), but we have to charge “at cost” fees for the drugs and time involved. The charges will vary depending on the weight of your animal and the time involved.
Estimated fees for the INITIAL 15 minutes of emergency care for full respiratory and heart arrest:
Cats and small dogs- $ 75-150 Medium-sized dogs- $125-225 Large dogs-$150-250
May I waive any emergency care if in the rare event my pet should experience complications?
Yes, you may request DO NOT RESUSCITATE. We understand that as much as you/ we would like to do everything possible for our pets, we must take many factors into consideration when money is involved.
What can be done to lower the risks of anesthesia?
Provide past medical records – especially of known problems with any drugs or vaccines with your pet or a relative of your pet. Notify the clinic of any recent problems- change in weight, appetite/thirst, urine/bowel movements or activity level, respiratory/ear/urine infections. Consider pre-anesthetic testing of:
a. Blood- to evaluate blood cell numbers, electrolytes, basic kidney and liver levels. Testing may be done the day of surgery or up to one month prior. We will wait for results before fully anesthetizing your pet. (Due to the small size of the clinic, we may need to give noisy dogs a sedative before blood test results return if you choose to have testing done the day of your appointment). Costs- see surgery info sheet.
b. Urine- to reveal underlying infections or early kidney disease. A sample must be submitted 1 week prior to the scheduled appointment. Cost- $46
c. Blood Pressure- to help detect underlying heart or kidney disease. We may need to shave hair from a lower leg and or tail. Cost- $29
