Difficulties with anesthesia in cats

Overview

Anesthesia is the medical ability to alleviate pain and awareness so that otherwise frightening or painful procedures can be done. Anesthesia is generally regarded as safe; however, it should never be undertaken lightly as it can be fatal in certain instances. Cats with cardiomyopathy, for example, may not tolerate anesthesia well and are at a higher risk of dying while they are under anesthesia. Other health problems that may predispose a cat towards difficulties from anesthetics include asthma and other breathing problems, liver disease of any kind, or kidney disease.

Anesthetics

There are several classes of anesthetics that your veterinarian may routinely use on feline patients.

• Local anesthetics: These have a low risk for the cat, and are used for minor wound repair or other treatments when the cat can be easily handled.
• Sedatives are often given prior to the administration of a general anesthetic so the cat is calm. One of the most common of these is acepromazine.
• General Anesthetics: These are used to create a sleep-like state. Inhalants (such as isoflurane and sevoflurane) are newer drugs and usually offer less risk to the feline patient than the older barbiturate drugs. Injectable drugs like propofol, ketamine, and medetomodine are also frequently used in cats to facilitate anesthesia in combination with inhalants and sedatives.

Questions cat owners should ask

Prior to giving permission for your cat to be placed under anesthesia, ask your veterinarian the following questions:

• Is my cat healthy enough to be placed under anesthesia?
• Does my cat require any blood tests before anesthesia to assess their kidney and liver function?
• What anesthetics do you use and what safety concerns are there about these drugs?
• Are there any drugs that are safer that you could use instead?
• How will my cat be monitored while under anesthesia?
• How will my cat be monitored after surgery and while in recovery?
• What should I expect when my cat comes home?
• What are the symptoms of any potential problems that I should watch for when my cat comes home?

If you aren't satisfied by your veterinarian's answers, press for more information. If you feel your veterinarian is not taking your questions seriously, perhaps a second opinion is in order.