What To Know When Your Dog Needs Anesthesia

When a dog needs an anesthesia-based procedure, many owners worry and have endless questions about the risks and required care. There are a couple of main points to learn about how anesthesia will be used and the recovery process. First, we want you to feel completely comfortable with our team, and we want to provide you with the answer to any questions you may have to make the procedure easy and smooth.

Before recommending anesthesia, our team will run pre-surgical physical examinations and preoperative blood and urine tests to assess any chance of clinical problems. You should ensure that your pet's complete medical history is available to your veterinarian for this process. We need to know about any pre-existing medical condition, any drug reactions, the result of previous diagnostics tests, and whether the dog has undergone any anesthetic or surgical procedures in the past.

Veterinarian in sterile gloves puts anesthesia oxygen mask on face of dachshund

Why Is Anesthesia Needed?

dog surgery

Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital uses anesthesia to suppress your dog's nerve response. During general anesthesia, your dog will be unconscious, unable to move, and will not feel any pain. Anesthesia can also be administered locally to numb a specific area of the body, depending on the required procedure. All risks are minimized with the right team, proper care, and focused supervision during, before, and after the procedure.

After the surgery is scheduled, you will be given specific instructions to follow regarding your dog's pre and post-surgery care. You will also get a chance to ask anything you want from our veterinarians and staff. Rest assured, we will be here to walk you through the entire process. Our team will also discuss any possible risks and explain what we will be doing to help your dog during this period.

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Here are some points to keep in mind before arriving for your dog surgery:

  • Try to keep their daily routine, if possible, the night before the procedure, including normal activity levels. Most procedures will require dogs to fast for at least 12 hours before the anesthesia is provided. Fasting is necessary to avoid any risk of vomiting or food aspiration while your dog is unconscious. If your dog requires any additional or special preparation, the doctor will let you know in advance.
  • Known when the procedure will start and arrive early for a check-in. At this point, we will go over charges, the process, and any additional aftercare to make sure you understand everything. It is an excellent time to ask any additional questions you may have to ease any doubts.
  • The veterinarian and supporting technicians will carefully monitor your dog during and after the procedure to reduce any risk during anesthesia. We will monitor all their vital signs, including but not limited to heartbeat patterns, body temperature, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and more.
  • Once awake, a dog's temperature and vitals will return to normal. Once they start to interact, the dog will be discharged to return home with you. However, many pets feel sleepy or tired for at least 24 hours after anesthesia is provided. Contact your veterinarian immediately during this period for specific advice if your pet is acting strange or has any unusual moods after the waiting period.
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Why Choose Advanced Care for Dog Veterinary Services?

Dealing with surgery or anesthesia for your pet can be challenging; however, our team will do everything possible to calm these fears.  Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital can help address any pre-surgery issues before the process begins. If you are ready to get started, contact us today to schedule your appointment with one of our experienced and compassionate veterinarians!