Testing Reduces Risks in Small Animal Anesthesia
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Pet Column for the week of April 13, 1998
Office of Public Engagement
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61802
Phone: 217/333-2907
By Theresa A. Fuess, Ph.D.
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
"The practice of veterinary medicine often requires the use of anesthesia in order to perform
even the most routine of procedures," says Dr. Kurt A. Grimm, veterinarian and anesthesia
resident at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital at
Urbana. "Pets don't understand that they need to be still while their teeth are cleaned or
while an X-ray is taken. Some pets won't even allow a veterinarian to perform a physical
examination without restraint."
Pet owners are often concerned about the risk of complications with anesthesia, particularly
with an older pet, and justifiably so. Even though the risk is relatively small for routine
procedures performed on healthy pets, there is always the potential for an anesthetic or
surgical complication. Pet owners should be aware of this and, together with their
veterinarian, should weigh the risk of anesthesia versus the benefit of doing the procedure.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has a scale to classify patients according
to the severity of disease. Patients in category 1 are normal and healthy, those in category 5
are near death. Age is never mentioned in any of the 5 categories. A healthy geriatric pet
with normal test results should be at no more risk than a young healthy pet unless there is an
undetected disease that lessens the patient's ability to cope with the stresses of anesthesia
and surgery.
A complete physical exam, laboratory blood analysis, and other diagnostic tests enable
your veterinarian to screen for disease and evaluate the potential risk in advance, then
proceed appropriately. However, some pet owners are reluctant to pay the additional costs
for these tests.
Studies have shown that about one in ten times, pre-anesthetic laboratory tests indicated a
reason to alter the standard anesthetic approach. In a third of these, the procedure was
postponed until the problem was corrected. A young healthy pet's blood work may simply
consist of a red blood cell count and a measurement of the total protein in the blood. Older
pets are more likely to have an underlying disease, and more extensive blood analysis may
provide information on the health and function of the kidneys, liver, and other organ
systems.
More and more emphasis is being placed on surgical pain management in veterinary
medicine. Anesthesiologists are involved in this movement because they are specialists in the
mechanisms of pain and how to manage it. Owners increasingly are expecting pain relief for
their pets. Dr. Grimm advises pet owners to consult their veterinarian about appropriate
pain management, especially before using over-the-counter remedies.
If you and your veterinarian decide that a procedure requiring anesthesia is in the best
interest of your pet, your veterinarian will give you specific instructions on caring for your
pet both before and after the procedure. For many procedures it is best to withhold food,
but usually not water, for 12 hours beforehand. The aftereffects of anesthesia and surgery
may make your pet less active for a few days, so keep it in a safe environment during this
time. Feed small meals to prevent nausea and vomiting.
For more information on animal health, contact your local veterinarian.