Is your cat or dog coming in for a dental procedure or desexing surgery? You may have questions about anaesthesia and whether it is safe for your furry friend.
Anaesthesia is often essential for these procedures, helping pets remain unconscious and pain-free while allowing our veterinary team to work safely.
However, anaesthesia is never completely risk-free, even in pets that appear healthy. Understanding the risks and preparing properly can help us make informed decisions for your pet. ❤️
🩺 1. Why Do Pets Need Anaesthesia?
🐱 Dental procedures: General anaesthesia allows us to thoroughly examine and clean your pet’s teeth, including below the gumline, while keeping them comfortable and still.
🐶 Desexing surgery: General anaesthesia allows surgery to be performed safely while your pet is unconscious and pain-free, alongside appropriate pain relief.
⚠️ 2. What Are the Risks of Anaesthesia?
Anaesthesia carries some risks, even for pets that appear healthy.
Potential risks may be associated with:
Existing health conditions, such as heart, respiratory, liver or kidney disease
Undiagnosed underlying conditions
Adverse reactions to medications
Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, breathing or blood oxygen levels during anaesthesia
In rare but serious cases, complications may include cardiac arrest and death.
Pre-anaesthetic assessment, an appropriate anaesthetic plan and careful monitoring can help reduce these risks, but they cannot eliminate them completely.
🍽️ 3. Fasting Before Surgery Is Important!
If your pet is scheduled for a procedure requiring anaesthesia, please follow the fasting instructions provided by our veterinary team.
If instructed, please do not feed your pet after 8 pm on the evening before surgery.
Why is this important? Anaesthesia can reduce your pet’s protective reflexes. If stomach contents are regurgitated and enter the lungs, this can cause serious aspiration pneumonia and may be life-threatening.
Please remember:
No food or treats after the instructed fasting time.
Follow our team’s instructions regarding access to water.
Puppies, kittens, very small pets and pets with certain medical conditions may need different fasting arrangements.
If your pet accidentally eats during the fasting period, please let us know before the procedure.
💊 4. Tell Us About Your Pet’s Health and Medications
Even if your pet seems perfectly healthy, please tell your vet about:
Any current or previous medical conditions, including heart disease, epilepsy, kidney disease or respiratory problems
Recent symptoms, such as coughing, vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite or unusual tiredness
All medications and supplements your pet is currently taking or has taken recently
Any previous adverse reactions to anaesthesia or medications, or known allergies
If your pet becomes unwell or their health changes before surgery, please contact us as soon as possible. We may recommend further checks, adjustments to the anaesthetic plan or postponing the procedure.
🏥 5. What Happens If an Emergency Occurs?
Our veterinary team will assess your pet before anaesthesia and monitor them appropriately during the procedure, helping us identify and respond to changes as early as possible.
If an emergency occurs, we will take all appropriate and reasonable steps to provide emergency care. Depending on the situation, this may include oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, medications and chest compressions.
We cannot promise zero risk, but careful preparation, appropriate monitoring and prompt intervention are important parts of protecting your pet.
❤️ 6. Let’s Make Every Procedure a Well-Informed Decision
At Broadway Vet, we believe every pet parent deserves to understand both the benefits and the potential risks of anaesthesia before making a decision for their beloved companion.
If your pet is booked for dental treatment, desexing or another procedure requiring anaesthesia, please follow the pre-operative instructions carefully and share all relevant health information with your vet.
Careful preparation, honest communication, professional assessment and appropriate monitoring are important steps we can take together to help keep your pet safe.
🐾 Broadway Vet
We listen — to you, and to them.
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