Anesthesia for aging pets: How to be safe

MY DOG Gemma recently underwent surgery to have a lump removed. Gemma is approximately 15 years old and weighs only six pounds, so even though we know that anesthesia for pets is very safe these days, my husband and I were a little anxious about having her go under. To minimize the risks, we had Gemma's cardiologist check her out beforehand, and I also asked pain management expert Robin Downing, DVM, for her advice on the special anesthesia needs of older animals.

Dr. Downing notes that while old age isn't a disease, it's a fact of life that organs suffer wear and tear as the body ages, and they metabolize medications differently. Aging pets may have chronic health problems, such as kidney disease, osteoarthritis or congestive heart failure. Their bodies take longer to heal, and it's essential to prevent and control pain before, during and after surgery to ensure a good recovery. For all of these reasons, veterinarians may need to modify the anesthesia protocol for senior animals.

Before your senior pet - or any pet - undergoes anesthesia, ask your veterinarian about safety and comfort precautions before, during and after surgery. That includes a pre-anesthesia physical exam and lab work to make sure there are no underlying health problems that could be worsened by anesthesia.

Once your pet is green-lighted for surgery, a balanced anesthesia protocol includes a pre-anesthesia narcotic; induction with a blend of medications that does not include dissociative drugs, such as ketamine; and maintenance with gas anesthesia. Other must-haves are intravenous fluids and careful monitoring by a veterinary nurse who checks blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen saturation.

Keeping the patient warm from start to finish is also important. Pets lose a large amount of body heat during anesthesia. "Keeping them warm allows them to wake up more smoothly, more quickly and more comfortably," Dr. Downing said. "It also allows them to metabolize their medications more effectively."

The staff should continue to observe the pet after the procedure. That means keeping him where there's plenty of activity, not putting him in a cage in a patient ward where he might not get as much attention.

If your veterinarian can't or doesn't follow the above procedures, consider having the procedure performed elsewhere. Not every veterinarian or veterinary practice is equipped to anesthetize pets safely, and so they have an ethical obligation to refer clients to a facility that can better meet a senior pet's needs.

Many times, a procedure recommended for an older pet is important but not necessarily urgent. That's important to remember.