Difficulties with anesthesia in dogs

Written by Audrey Pavia Reviewed by Kristin Westafer, DVM

Overview

Anesthesia is one of the greatest tools of modern medicine, whether human or veterinary. Without anesthesia, doctors for both humans and animals would not be able to perform many lifesaving procedures.

Anesthesia used on dogs today is considered to be extremely safe. Sedatives, injectibles, and gas anesthetics either alone or in combination with each other are used to anesthetize animals so they can painlessly undergo surgery, diagnostic procedures, or health remedies that cannot be attained with the dog awake.

Although anesthesia reactions are very rare, anesthesia is always considered a risk. It is impossible to predict with 100 percent certainty how any animal will tolerate the drugs used to anesthetize. When a dog does not tolerate an anesthetic well, it can stop breathing during surgery or develop extremely low blood pressure. This could be from a higher sensitivity to the drug, an underlying medical condition, or because the body does not eliminate the drug as it should. In extreme cases, the rate heart can drop dangerously low or cease all together. This can be the result of poor functioning of the heart, liver, or kidneys due to illness or old age. Some breeds of dogs are also more sensitive to the effects of anesthesia and can overdose on amounts that are safe for other breeds. Special consideration is given to the sighthound breeds (Greyhounds, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds and others), Toy breeds (Pomeranians, Poodles, Pugs and others) and any breed known for a medical condition that may affect the processing of the anesthesia.

Symptoms

Dangerously low blood pressure
Dog stops breathing while under anesthesia
Dog's heart rate drops too low
Dog takes a long time to wake up from anesthesia

Prevention

The best way to prevent problems with anesthesia in dogs is to have a physical exam and blood test performed before the drugs are given to determine the health of the dog's heart, liver, and kidneys. If your vet discovers problems with any of these organs, he or she may elect not to anesthetize your dog, or to use an alternative (possibly more expensive) anesthetic. Always make your vet aware of any health problems your dog may have even if you do not think they are relevant.

Treatment

If a dog should experience difficulty with anesthesia, veterinarians would decrease or eliminate gas anesthesia and administer only oxygen, and/or administer emergency drugs such as cardiac stimulants or drug reversal agents. In severe cases where the heart stops beating, CPR is performed in combination with the cardiac stimulant. If the dog is not able to be regulated on the anesthesia, the procedure will have to be reconsidered.

After Treatment

If your dog has had difficulty under anesthesia, he will be kept at the veterinary hospital until all his vital signs return to normal. Once at home, he may still be somewhat sedate for several hours or as long as a day. Allow him to rest, be kept warm and monitor closely until he returns to normal. If vomiting was an issue after anesthesia, your vet may want you to refrain from feeding your dog for 12 to 24 hours.