Shakti Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Ben (GSD weighing 32 kgs ahed 18months) was neutered today, The vet said he took an unusually long time to come round and he is still extraordinarily groggy. Can't walk at all and after I carried him upstairs he has gone straight back to sleep on his bed. The vet says he wants to do thyroid tests in about ten days time but I am not sure...is a slow recovery time indicative of thyroid issues? Wouldn't there usually be some other indications of trouble with a thyroid before this?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 There are a couple of different types of anaesthetic. I only discovered this when Ollie was undergoing lots of surgery for Mast cell tumour removal. The one that my vet uses on Ollie is not the usual one used - it is a little more expensive and he wakes up quickly with very few side effects from it. I will find out what it is called and let you know. Some dogs do have a harder time than others waking up and suffer the full effects of anaesthetic. I hope that your pooch is recovering well and feels better soon. Cheers Jodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toohey Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Everyone reacts differently to anaesthesia, and unless a highly specialised person is administering the drugs required, it is not easy to get the mix exactly right. You can have the individual who is wide awake and screaming as they are wheeled out of the operating room, then you have the other end of the spectrum where the individual is out like a light until the next day. Even with expertise, there can be cases where the outcome/effects cannot be accurately predicted, because everyone has a different genetic makeup. Perhaps your dog does have a slow metabolism caused by an underactive thyroid, and if it is easy to have the blood test done, it probably wouldn't hurt. He is probably just sensitive to the drugs given, and will be fine after he has slept it off. If he has a throid problem that may not have shown itself till now, it can no doubt be easily managed by medication. Please let us know how he is tomorrow, and keep an eye on him tonight. And, don't worry. I bet he'll be back to normal by morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakti Posted November 20, 2006 Author Share Posted November 20, 2006 Dear Jodie and toohey, Thank you both very much for your kind nad thoughtful replies. He is still out like a light poor buy and I feel really sorry for him. Will see how he goes tomorrow I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scales of Justice Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 It is natural that he will want to sleep to sleep off the anaesthetic but he should be starting to be able to walk by late tonight. If he is not walking in the morning I would get veterinary advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 i want to know that after the vet seeing the dog react so out of the ordinary he allowed him to go home without further tests. There is drugs that can reverse the anesthetic, its not healthy to have an animal sedate for that long. Is his heartbeat and breathing ok? Some drugs can cause arrythmia and for a large breed that is not a good thing if its still in his system. Go poke the vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakti Posted November 20, 2006 Author Share Posted November 20, 2006 I have had several dogs neuterd over the past twenty years but thi sis by far the slowest recovery I have ever seen. His gums are pink and the vet did test his heartbeat before we left. The Japanese Chin *weighing under 2kg* is snuffling about optimistically looking for his dinner. Ben still can't stand without support and is basically just sleeping still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kitakins Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 i want to know that after the vet seeing the dog react so out of the ordinary he allowed him to go home without further tests. i was wondering the same thing. all the vets ive seen dont allow pets to go home unless they are awake, alert and walking. same goes with humans and surgery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 With a prolonged recovery, most vets would keep the dog in & monitor, with modern anaesthetics, its unusual to have your dog groggy this long after the op. Do keep an eye on him tonight, let him sleep - but see how he is if you try & take him out on lead later, for a wee. If he is still unable to stand, I think I'd be giving the vet a call to advise him. fifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toohey Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 i want to know that after the vet seeing the dog react so out of the ordinary he allowed him to go home without further tests. i was wondering the same thing. all the vets ive seen dont allow pets to go home unless they are awake, alert and walking. same goes with humans and surgery! It's highly unlikely that any vet would send a dog home if they were not happy that they could maintain their own airway. As Brooke has already mentioned, the vet listened to Ben's heart before he left. If his breathing and heart beat are regular and steady, he is most likely just sleeping off the drugs. Nehkebet There is drugs that can reverse the anesthetic What drugs do you mean? And for which anaesthetic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toohey Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 How is Ben today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haven Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Can only speak from my own experience and say that my Rotti is really knocked around by GA and takes a very long time to recover. She was diagnosed with hypothyroid, although I wouldn't say she shows any other symptoms other than prolonged injury recovery. The hypothyroidism isn't a problem, but having to carry her around for a week after a GA when she weighs 45 kg is ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyking Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 It could be that his thyroid is low but not necessarily a problem - eg within "normal" reading but at the lower end. In this case he may not show any real signs of the problem but you may well see a difference in him if he is put onto medication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akitaowner Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 my boy takes a while to come out of anaethetics - hes had 2 both for 'accident/injury' reasons he took at least 24-36 hrs to get back to normal after coming home. First time i collected him he could only just about stand, i had to carry him to the car (about 30kgs!!) - i crated him when we got home to protect him from falling over and doing more damage. second time he was better when i collected him but still very groggy and unsteady on his feet - has never had any prolonged effects from either. i hate anaethetics anyway....no matter what the reason i sit on edge until i get the call that everything is ok... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonElite Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I hope that beautifull Ben is all better today. An low thyroid makes a dog a bit lathargic/sleep for long hours, dog likes warmth, is a fussy eater and doenst put on weight, often has some skin problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 It could be that his thyroid is low but not necessarily a problem - eg within "normal" reading but at the lower end. In this case he may not show any real signs of the problem but you may well see a difference in him if he is put onto medication. I don't believe that thyroiditis should be discounted on the basis of one simple blood test - especially in the event that it returns as "on the low side but within the normal range". HERE's a link to an article by W. Jean Dodds, DVM "Behavioral Issues with Thyroiditis that some here might find of interest and from which the following exerpt was taken:- "... testing of T4 has recently been shown to produce unreliable results in 52% of dogs ... and therefore should not be used even as a general diagnostic screening test. Complete thyroid profiling is the most accurate and correct way to diagnose thyroid dysfunction when coupled with clinical information about the animal. ..." And from the book "Psychopharmacology of Animal Behavior Disorders" :- After explaining counter affects of one blood serum upon another that can lead to false/misleading results ......... For this reason, to diagnose hypothyroidism in our behavior patients, we prefer to rely on a thyroid panel measuring all six analytes (TT4, FT4, TT3, T4aa, T3aa). I realise this thread is not essentially a discussion on Thyroiditis, but under the circumstances feel this information may be helpful if not pertinent to the OP. In fact, I'm impressed that the OP's Vet thought to investigate thyroiditis in this case. Many do not realise how prevalent this condition is within our canines and I believe many many cases go unnoticed and hence untreated. Unfortunately some Vets, particularly those who don't believe in or have much knowledge of thyroiditis in canines, routinely do the one simple blood test and so long as the result falls ANYWHERE within the normal range, discount any possibility that it can remain the culprit of various health and/or behaviour issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakti Posted November 21, 2006 Author Share Posted November 21, 2006 Thnak you to all those who inquired about Ben. he is still now at 7:02 pm a bit wobbley but is certainly much better and is eating and drinking well. He can't corner properly and his co-ordination is still a bit *the morning after-ish* but he is certainly on the mend. The thyroid conditions you describe Myska all fot Ben apart from the sluggishness - he is hyper-alert and boucy but everything else does sound like him ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 The thyroid conditions you describe Myska all fot Ben apart from the sluggishness - he is hyper-alert and boucy but everything else does sound like him ;) Hi Brooke. The typical symptoms of thyroiditis may not show up in the young dog. It is rare for a dog to become hyperthyroidistic. Generally this condition reveals itself as hypothyroidism, even though the dog might represent with hyperactivity (and/or even aggression) rather than presenting with lethargy and mental dullness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Any news regarding the thyroid blood tests, Brooke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakti Posted November 23, 2006 Author Share Posted November 23, 2006 Hi erny, thanks for your inquiry! They are not going to do any bloodtests until after Ben is off the course of cortisone he is on so we will probably be looking at another fortnight or so but i will keep you posted. Thanks again for thinking of us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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