Anesthesia is necessary for specific medical procedures and is generally a very low risk medical procedure. In dogs, as in humans, there are some individuals that react atypically to anesthesia drugs which can cause complications and even death in some situations. By understanding the risks as well as the techniques used in anesthesia at the vets you can be more comfortable in making the decision to go forward with a procedure or look for another option.

Anesthesia is the administration of a variety of different drugs that depress the central nervous system functions in the dog. This makes the dog unconscious for period of time, allowing the vet to complete surgical procedures or medical procedures that would be impossible if the dog were not anesthetized. Different types of anesthesia are used depending on the size of the dog, the specific procedure and information known about how that specific breed responds. In some cases local anesthesia is all that is required, simply deadening a portion of the dog's skin and tissue to allow the procedure without fully putting them out. This type of anesthesia has very little if any risk to any breed of dog, although slight swelling or irritation at the injection site can occur.

According to the American College of Veterinary Medicine approximately one animal in every one hundred thousand will have a negative and potentially lethal reaction to the medication. The worse type of situation occurs if the medications used causes anaphylactic shock, cardiac arrest or organ system failures. Some animals may also be prone to seizures from the medication which can cause additional risks both during and post procedure. Often older dogs are at greater risk than younger dogs, however this is not always true depending on the dog's health condition.

There are some breeds that are more prone to reactions of minor or major types with different options for medication available for these dogs. The sighthound group, which includes both Salukis and Afghan Hounds, and many of the giant breeds of dogs are most sensitive to anesthesia. This is becoming less and less of an issue as vets now have a much more significant range of drugs to select from. However, if your dog has had any reaction to medications, foods, and treatments of even topical applications in the past it is essential to talk to your vet prior to any surgical procedure. Tests can be run prior to surgery to check for medication sensitivities.

Always follow all instructions from the vet. This will include keeping your pet away from food or water for at least 12 hours before the procedure is to occur. Dogs that have managed to find food or guzzle down large quantities of water should be rescheduled for surgery again since they can have problems with vomiting during anesthesia which is a serious life threatening issue. If you have any doubts about this speak directly to your vet prior to the appointment and verify if there is any additional risk because of this occurring. While there is always a slight risk with anesthesia it is very low in most cases. Senior dogs or dogs that are already in poor health conditions may not qualify for anesthesia depending on your vet's evaluation.

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