There are several situations that could happen in your dog’s life that may involve him needing to be put under using anesthesia. The fear that pet owners have associated with this is very understandable as anesthesia can potentially be more dangerous than the surgery itself.
That said, this post is not meant to detract from how necessary anesthesia sometimes is. For something like dental work, it is sometimes very necessary to do a thorough job without causing your pet pain. If you have concern about your dog’s reaction to anesthesia, try to discuss it with your vet a week prior to the procedure.
One of the major precautions prior to a procedure involving putting your dog going to sleep is to withhold food for 12 hours. There is varying advice regarding how long to withhold water, but the reason for both these things is to prevent your dog from aspirating this food and water while under and causing a type of pneumonia that could potentially be fatal. An empty stomach can also help your dog with recovery after surgery.
Don’t choose the inexpensive way out when offered to opt out of the antibiotics and pain medication. Do not use human drugs. Dogs do not react well to tylenol. Also, keep an eye on your pet for a few hours after surgery, as most anesthesia related deaths happen within three hours after surgery. Keeping good records of your pet’s medical history, medications and keeping him at a healthy weight will also help him through it.
