Dangers and Necessity of General Anesthetic for Dental Surgery on Older Dog?
Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >*My questions: >* >*1. Is there really a significant danger from putting older dogs under a >*general? >There is a risk from putting ANY dog under a general. The risk is >minimized by the use of an anesthetic protocol with which the practicioner >is comfortable, and by close monitoring of patient status during the >procedure, as well as by pre-anesthetic examination/health >screening/bloodwork to ensure there are no existing contraindications for >any of the drugs the practicioner intends to give the dog. >* *2. Is it usually necessary to give a dog a general for dental work? >Yes, it is. Otherwise you can’t control the airway.
Or the teeth. >*3. Are there any good alternatives to this? >Not in my opinion, if your dog needs dental work.
– Five Cats
Response:
*>* *2. Is it usually necessary to give a dog a general for dental work? *> *>Yes, it is. Otherwise you can’t control the airway. * *Or the teeth. Oh, IMO you can gork them out enough with sedation not to worry about being bitten. At least, I have done it in order to do detailed intraoral exams in aggressive animals. But you can’t place an endotracheal tube, which IMO is required when you’re doing a dental, to prevent aspiration of drek. — "uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est." newly minted veterinarian-at-large 
Response:
> Oh, IMO you can gork them out enough with sedation not to worry about > being bitten. At least, I have done it in order to do detailed intraoral > exams in aggressive animals. But you can’t place an endotracheal tube, > which IMO is required when you’re doing a dental, to prevent aspiration of > drek.
I have an asthmatic cat that is scheduled for a dental next week, and this thread has made me nervous. I had the opportunity to observe a days worth of exams, procedures, surgeries, at this vet clinic(where the dental is scheduled) a couple years ago. There were 2 cat dentals that day and neither utilized an endotracheal tube. Excuse my ignorance, but this is what I saw: One shot, cat goes to sleep–dental performed–second shot, cat wakes up. No tubes. This clinic has been satisfactory as far as biannual checkups are concerned (nothing more involved has been required, thankfully), but should I be looking for a differerent clinic at which to have this procedure performed? I don’t want to risk damaging his lungs,.. or anything else for that matter. -angie
Response:
*My questions: * *1. Is there really a significant danger from putting older dogs under a *general? There is a risk from putting ANY dog under a general. The risk is minimized by the use of an anesthetic protocol with which the practicioner is comfortable, and by close monitoring of patient status during the procedure, as well as by pre-anesthetic examination/health screening/bloodwork to ensure there are no existing contraindications for any of the drugs the practicioner intends to give the dog. * *2. Is it usually necessary to give a dog a general for dental work? Yes, it is. Otherwise you can’t control the airway. *3. Are there any good alternatives to this? Not in my opinion, if your dog needs dental work. — "uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est." newly minted veterinarian-at-large
Response:
>I have a 10-yr-old golden retriever (Roofus) with dental problems. My vet >wants to put him under a general anesthetic to work on and possibly extract >a couple teeth. Given what I’ve heard (anecdotally) about older dogs often >not surviving general anesthesia, I’m pretty nervous about him doing this. >My questions: >1. Is there really a significant danger from putting older dogs under a >general?
I suspect it depends on the anaesthetic used. I would have no worries about letting my vet anaesthetise my 10yo cat for dental work – they use an expensive anaesthetic also used on humans (fluo-something) which works out of the system *very* quickly. Whilst a 10yo dog might be more like a 15yo cat, I would probably still go ahead as tooth problems reduce quality of life, are implicated (at least in humans) with other health problems, and can stop the dog (or cat) eating properly. >2. Is it usually necessary to give a dog a general for dental work?
Yes. You can see if the dog will let the teeth be de-scaled without anaesthetic, but if a tooth has to come out I don’t think there is an alternative unless the dog is sedated up to the eyeballs – which might not be any safer. >3. Are there any good alternatives to this?
Once the teeth are sorted brush them to prevent the problem recurring. How often you have to brush them will depend on the dog. Also give it things to chew to help keep them clean. >Thanks in advance, >Mark
– Five Cats
Response:
Where I live, Los Angeles, there is an anesthesia free teeth cleaning service. It is done by technicians who scale the dogs teeth without using anesthesia. I have seen it done. The technicians gently hold the mouth open and use the scaling tools, just like a human dental hygienist would. If they discover a problem, they tell you to take the dog to the vet. There is a maintenance plan, so I take my Missy once a month. These doggie dental hygienists have managed to save loose teeth by cleaning below the gums. Somehow, some loose teeth tighten up. They also do cats. I don’t know how they manage to work in animals’ mouths without getting bitten, but they do, and the pets don’t seem to mind it. Or maybe it’s just the clientele – people who really care about their pets probably have calmer, better-behaved pets. My Missy lets the groomer, the hygienist, and the doctor do whatever they need to do without any resistance. Maybe there is such a service in your area. Patti
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Not sure where abouts you are from, but general anaesethesia is a pretty > safe thing for pets. > A 10 year old dog with teeth that need extracting is going to be more > comfortable without them anyway. > there is no way I ahve heard of to do dental work like this without a > general anaesethetic. > In the clinic I work in in Australia we would recommend a pre anaesethic > blood test to rule out kidney and liver problems etc then use an anaesthetic > that is suitable for an older patient. > Have one of the vet techs walk you through what happens to him from > admitting to going home, even ask to see where he will be kept and the > surgery area if you like. > Any clinic thats willing to spend the time talking to you, that encourages > and welcomes your concern and questions and is happy to show you behind the > scenes as well as suggesting things like pre anaesethic blood screens is in > my opinion a "good" clinic. > Any clinic that you ask questions like that and get umms and ahhs or they > dont seem to know what to tell you or dont want to show you "out the back" I > personally would avoid. > Its stressful having your pet need an anaesethetic especially as they get > older, I know I worry about my 11 year old lab every time she needs one (and > im the one monitoring her anaesethetic) but if all the precautions are taken > and it is a reputable well know clinic then the risk is really very very > small. > Kim > I have a 10-yr-old golden retriever (Roofus) with dental problems. My vet > wants to put him under a general anesthetic to work on and possibly > extract > a couple teeth. Given what I’ve heard (anecdotally) about older dogs > often > not surviving general anesthesia, I’m pretty nervous about him doing this. > My questions: > 1. Is there really a significant danger from putting older dogs under a > general? > 2. Is it usually necessary to give a dog a general for dental work? > 3. Are there any good alternatives to this? > Thanks in advance, > Mark
Response:
Ask if the vet uses Isoflurene (sp?). It is a general anesthetic which leaves the system very quickly. Bonnie in NJ
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> OK, I found a FAQ that says thge risk can be minimized my having bloodwork > done. Comments?
Response:
I have a 10-yr-old golden retriever (Roofus) with dental problems. My vet wants to put him under a general anesthetic to work on and possibly extract a couple teeth. Given what I’ve heard (anecdotally) about older dogs often not surviving general anesthesia, I’m pretty nervous about him doing this. My questions: 1. Is there really a significant danger from putting older dogs under a general? 2. Is it usually necessary to give a dog a general for dental work? 3. Are there any good alternatives to this? Thanks in advance, Mark
Response:
OK, I found a FAQ that says thge risk can be minimized my having bloodwork done. Comments? Also note that if it’s important, he had heartworms about 7 yrs ago (he had em when I took him in as a stray and they were treated back then).
Response:
Not sure where abouts you are from, but general anaesethesia is a pretty safe thing for pets. A 10 year old dog with teeth that need extracting is going to be more comfortable without them anyway. there is no way I ahve heard of to do dental work like this without a general anaesethetic. In the clinic I work in in Australia we would recommend a pre anaesethic blood test to rule out kidney and liver problems etc then use an anaesthetic that is suitable for an older patient. Have one of the vet techs walk you through what happens to him from admitting to going home, even ask to see where he will be kept and the surgery area if you like. Any clinic thats willing to spend the time talking to you, that encourages and welcomes your concern and questions and is happy to show you behind the scenes as well as suggesting things like pre anaesethic blood screens is in my opinion a "good" clinic. Any clinic that you ask questions like that and get umms and ahhs or they dont seem to know what to tell you or dont want to show you "out the back" I personally would avoid. Its stressful having your pet need an anaesethetic especially as they get older, I know I worry about my 11 year old lab every time she needs one (and im the one monitoring her anaesethetic) but if all the precautions are taken and it is a reputable well know clinic then the risk is really very very small. Kim
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 10-yr-old golden retriever (Roofus) with dental problems. My vet > wants to put him under a general anesthetic to work on and possibly extract > a couple teeth. Given what I’ve heard (anecdotally) about older dogs often > not surviving general anesthesia, I’m pretty nervous about him doing this. > My questions: > 1. Is there really a significant danger from putting older dogs under a > general? > 2. Is it usually necessary to give a dog a general for dental work? > 3. Are there any good alternatives to this? > Thanks in advance, > Mark
Response:
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