Anesthesia And Older Dogs

[RL1]

My 9 and a bit year old Rott is booked in to go under tomorrow at the

local vet, but her breeder thinks it's a bad idea to put her through this

at her age.

I know there's a risk with every operation/anesthesia, but surely it's

rare for a dog to die while under. The procedure she's having done is not

for a life threatening condition, more so cosmetic and for my benefit.

What precautions can you take ? I don't think there are any other than not

to have the procedure. Is it wrong to put an older dog under anesthesia for

a non life threatening op ?

[Teebs]

I wouldnt do it unless they NEEDED it done.

My old man was 10 when he had to go under, to get a lump removed, took him a long time to get over it (that was the final one for us, we said after that he would never go under for anything, that it was just too much for him)

[Sam&Saki]

There's always a risk with anesthesia, and the risk is different for different breeds - do you know how high the risks are for a Rotti?

Personally I wouldn't put my own dogs under general unless absolutely necessary (hence non surgical desexing and still having dew claws), but then I am more paranoid than most

[puggy_puggy]

Many older dogs go under GA every day and come out fine. It usually takes an older dog a bit longer to rid the GA out of their system and to bounce back then it does for younger ones.

If she is fit and healthy and it is only a minor operation I would not be to worried even though it's hard not to.

You can always have pre GA blood tests before she goes under and requests that she has fluids by and iv.

[redarachnid]

There is no reason why older dogs should not have anaesthetics. If you have a COMPETENT and confident veterinary surgeon then you should have no problems. Anaesthetic deaths do occur, I woudn't say rare, but certainly uncommon. But this is for ANY age group and as others have said, there's always some risk with any anaesthetic.

Often specialist vets have a large proportion of older dogs as surgical patients... coz with age, comes health problems. My specialist vet friend says he hates it when local vets say "oh, he's too old, i wouldn't bother with surgery". He says... would you say the same thing about your grandpa???

[RL1]

I wouldnt do it unless they NEEDED it done.

You sound like the breeder. She thinks it's wrong what i'm doing.

There's always a risk with anesthesia, and the risk is different for different breeds - do you know how high the risks are for a Rotti?

No, i don't know the risks for any breed. The vet has told me the risk is very low.

If she is fit and healthy and it is only a minor operation I would not be to worried even though it's hard not to.

You can always have pre GA blood tests before she goes under and requests that she has fluids by and iv.

Apart from having a bit extra weight, she is healthy. I might ask for the blood test as an extra precaution.

There is no reason why older dogs should not have anaesthetics. If you have a COMPETENT and confident veterinary surgeon then you should have no problems.

I've only been using this vet for about 12 months, but i have more confidence in her compared to the

previous vet.

When i was at the vets last week, she was talking about a sedation and if there were any signs of

problems that she wouldn't proceed with the GA.

Edited August 2, 2009 by RottyLover01

[taters]

I would also go with IV fluids

Helps keep the oxygen level up and flushes the anesthetic out of their system quicker

I would also get the and pre anesthetic blood test

[Kelly_Louise]

Personally I don't think it's wrong - Chloe went under many times at 8+ for her 2 leg ops, xrays etc and had no problems at all.

In saying that, I wouldn't do it without a good reason - doesn't necessarily have to be life threatening, but if it's for better quality of life in anyway then that's good enough for me.

Nine is still young, after about 13 or so I would start to think twice. But that's just my opinion.

Just follow the advice of the vet, shouldn't be too big a deal.

[gareth]

I would also go with IV fluids

Helps keep the oxygen level up and flushes the anesthetic out of their system quicker

I would also get the and pre anesthetic blood test

It's actually the oxygen that flushes the anaesthetic gases out.

If it is surgery that will improve the dog's quality of life, have it done but ask for local and sedation especially if it is something superficial.

Otherwise, I wouldn't bother. can't you explain what it is?

[Nekhbet]

talk with the vet

have bloods done, use a safe combination of pre-anaesthetic and then something like Isoflurane as the actualy gas which leaves the system quickly. IV fluids are something I would definately do as well. It will cost more but your dog will be better off.

We did a small breed well into the teens at my clinic and it was hopping about like nothing happened by the time it went home. A good vet will be honest with you and insist on bloods first.

Edited August 2, 2009 by Nekhbet

[John Smith]

My 11yo Pug recently had anesthetic to get his teeth cleaned. While he was under, he had 10 removed. I had been nagging at my vet on & off for about the last 2 years to clean them but she was nervous about knocking him out unless it was an emergency. Some vets don't like anethesising Pugs because of their compressed faces & airways. She has since left for another practice so I got my regular vet to do it. He was a bit reluctant too but I told him "if you don't do it soon, he'll end up with periodontal disease". He had one look at him & agreed.

He came through it with no problems & even ate some mince for dinner that night. Yours should be fine. I'm assuming he doesn't have any heart or respiratory problems?

[RL1]

My Rotts fine as far as i know. She's never had any major ops. Never had any broken bones

or done a cruciate like so many seem to.

Tomorrow is really only minor procedures, but it does require her to be knocked out which

was a bit of a concern. The breeder doesn't agree with what i'm doing, but we don't agree on everything.

I'll ask for the blood test when i drop her off.

[Staff'n'Toller]

We always do a full blood profile for any dog over 8, unless the client declines of course.

Being a control freak I'd like to know what the state of the liver and kidneys are before going ahead with any sedation. IV fluids can really help flush things through as well.

[Clyde]

have bloods done, use a safe combination of pre-anaesthetic and then something like Isoflurane as the actualy gas which leaves the system quickly. IV fluids are something I would definately do as well. It will cost more but your dog will be better off.

Absolutely agree with all of this. Write it down RL and take in exactly what you want done. My vet doesn't charge extra for fluids, it is standard practice, but I know that other vets do. And the same with StaffnToller, my vet does PAP's (pre anesthetic profiles for any dog over 8) - perhaps yours does too.

It's difficult to gauge whether it is worth it or not when none of us know the reason behind it.

Are you docking her tail?

Edited August 2, 2009 by Clyde

[RL1]

Absolutely agree with all of this. Write it down RL and take in exactly what you want done. My vet doesn't charge extra for fluids, it is standard practice, but I know that other vets do. And the same with StaffnToller, my vet does PAP's (pre anesthetic profiles for any dog over 8) - perhaps yours does too.

It's difficult to gauge whether it is worth it or not when none of us know the reason behind it.

Are you docking her tail?

No, most of her tail left her little behind almost 9.5 years ago. :D

I'll get flamed if i list what's getting done. It's not "necessary" or "life threatening" procedures.

I'll go with the blood test and take it from there. Will post a follow up tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks.

[Erny]

I'll get flamed if i list what's getting done. It's not "necessary" or "life threatening" procedures.

Then I personally wouldn't subject the dog to either GA or the affects of surgery itself ..... regardless of age and even less so, an older dog.

This is subject to knowing exactly what you're doing to her and for what reason though - otherwise all I can go on is the face value of what you are saying. My brother had his 5yo labrador desexed and he (the dog) died of a heart attack coming out of GA. IMO there's no point "risk taking" if there's no real good (read : beneficial to life/well-being) reason for it - especially when you chose it not for yourself but for another being.

Edited August 2, 2009 by Erny

[Staffyluv]

My 9 and a bit year old Rott is booked in to go under tomorrow at the

local vet, but her breeder thinks it's a bad idea to put her through this

at her age.

I know there's a risk with every operation/anesthesia, but surely it's

rare for a dog to die while under. The procedure she's having done is not

for a life threatening condition, more so cosmetic and for my benefit.

What precautions can you take ? I don't think there are any other than not

to have the procedure. Is it wrong to put an older dog under anesthesia for

a non life threatening op ?

I have a 12 year old stafford here and he has cancer - he often needs tumours removed or some other horror that crops up from time to time means he needs to go under. I hate doing it but my vet assures me that it is safe and he would not recommend it if he did not think Ollie could handle it.

The last time he was out was a few months ago to have a toe removed due to another type of cancer (not the one he has). It was needed.

To be honest, unless you have a show animal and the cosmetic thing is required to win, then I would not be doing it if it does not threaten life in anyway.

We all have our flaws, including our dogs

[MTD]

I would definately not have the proceedure done if not necessary. Not worth the risk even if it is a small risk .

I had savannahs teeth done last year age 13. We had full bloods done , she was given IV fluids ect . If the teeth weren't giving her health problems there is no way I would haven done it.

Edited August 2, 2009 by MTD

[InspectorRex]

I have to agree with Erny and a few others.If it is only cosmetic and not for a life-threatening condition or to resolve a health issue I would not be subjecting the dog to a GA.

If my dogs ever have a GA( like to have hips x-rayed etc) I always have the Vet use Propofol as the induction agent as they come out of the GA much quicker( that advise was given to me by the late Dianne Gunn-Scarcella).

[merijigs]

OMG!!! You're having your dog undergo GA for a cosmetic procedure for your benefit???