There is a widespread fear among senior dog parents that giving anesthesia to a senior dog is too dangerous, and not worth the risk.

Anesthesia is riskier for animals than humans, and when dealing with a senior dog the risk is greater. Having said that, I don’t recommend you refuse any procedure that requires anesthesia outright. The best thing to do is have a face to face meeting with your vet. Have him explain what the operation is for, how it will help, pros and cons of doing it versus not doing it, and how to reduce the risk of something happening during the surgery. Only then can you make an informed decision.

I have confronted this fear on several occasions, each time one of my old dogs needed surgery. Like you, I would never want to do anything that might harm my animal, but at the same time I know how much they could benefit when dental disease is an issue, for example. On one occasion, my vet was recommending dental surgery for my 15ish year old heart dog Red. She was blind, and even though she had been blind for a long time, even before I adopted her, coming out of anaesthesia was rough for her. Her heart murmur and kidney issues were an added concern. I had a face to face chat with my vet, we talked about the benefits and risks of doing it versus what could happen if we just relied on long term antibiotics.

There are two things that made me comfortable saying yes. One was how much I trust my vet. I was confident if something were to happen to her during the operation, it would not be his fault. The second was, if we waited she would be that much older and the problem would be that much worse. It was the right decision, especially after finding out her dental disease was more extensive then originally thought.

What is Anesthesia?

I just learned anesthesia comes from the Greek word meaning “lack of sensation.”

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, “Simply put, anesthesia is a controlled unconsciousness, where your pet’s level of consciousness is controlled so they don’t feel pain and don’t move. We certainly don’t want our pets to feel pain whenever possible, and it’s important that they don’t move because precision is required during these procedures and movement could lead to complications.”

Should You Be Worried About Your Dog Undergoing Anesthesia?

Of course you should be concerned, but making yourself miserable from worry won’t help anyone. Anesthesia is safer than ever, and while the risk of death during surgery is a real possibility, according to the AVMA, it is rare. Complications can occur, but a well trained vet and team can deal with them as they arise.

There are times when anesthesia is considered “high risk” and that’s when dealing with a pet with health issues. That’s why it’s so important to weigh the pros and cons with your vet. In some cases, your vet may recommend having the surgery done at a specialist hospital, where an anesthesiologist and other specialists can handle anything that may come up.

What to Discuss With Your Vet Pre Surgery

As I’ve mentioned, the best thing to do is talk to your vet so you can both make the best decision for your senior dog.

Find out…

Is surgery the only option. If not, what other options do you have
Is your dog in pain
Can the pain be managed through other means
What difference(s) can you expect to see after surgery
Is it a cure
Will it improve his quality of life
What will the vet do to reduce as much risk as possible i.e. is there a gentler type of anesthesia for example
How will your dog be feeling after surgery
Will they send him/her home with pain relief
What can you do to make your dog more comfortable
How can you tell if something is wrong, and should you go to the emergency hospital if it’s out of hours

What are the Risks of Anesthesia in Dogs?

According to the VCA Animal Hospitals website, “It is generally estimated that approximately 1 in 100,000 animals will have some sort of reaction to an anesthetic agent. These reactions may range from mild swelling at the site of injection or a mild decrease in cardiac output, to a full-blown episode of anaphylactic shock or death. However, many experts estimate the risk of anesthetic death is lower than the risk of driving to and from the hospital to have the anesthetic procedure.”

Are Some Dog Breeds More Prone to Side Effects Than Others?

I was curious to find out if some breeds are more prone to issues while under anesthesia. I imagined it’s not an easy question to answer, especially with all the mixtures out there! I did find an article that talks about purebreeds and their risks, which you may be interested to read ⇒ “Does Your Purebred Dog Have Specific Anesthetic Risks?“

At the end of the day, no matter what your dog’s parentage, we need to do all we can to ensure they get through their operation as safely as possible.

How to Minimize the Risks of Your Dog Going Under Anesthesia

What your vet can do

Before your dog has surgery, your vet will want to do tests to check for any medical problems that could indicate an anesthesia risk. They’re typically just blood tests, but depending on your dog may also include urine tests, x rays and ECG.

What you can do

Make sure your vet is aware of all medications and supplements your dog takes
Let him or her know of any reactions your dog may have experienced in the past
Follow your vet’s instructions on what to do before surgery, especially when it comes to withholding food and water
Keep your pet at a healthy weight

How to Help Your Dog Recover After Surgery

♦ The number one way to help your dog recover is to follow your vet’s post op instructions.

♦ Don’t be surprised if your dog doesn’t have much of an appetite, as anesthesia can make your dog feel nauseous. Try to feed him something easy on the stomach like chicken and rice for example. Start with small amounts, a few times a day. Vets often (at least mine does!) send you home with a tin or two of easy to digest food for the first few days after surgery. If your dog still won’t eat after 48 hours, please call your vet.

♦ If your vet doesn’t give you any pain medication or antibiotics to take home, double check and ask why not.

♦ Set your dog up in a nice comfy spot, and keep activity down to a minimum around him.

♦ To prevent him chewing on stitches, buy a cone, t shirt or full body suit.

♦ Even if your dog seems back to normal, don’t skip follow up appointments!

I wrote an article with information you’ll find helpful – “How to Help Your Senior Dog Recover After Surgery“

To Sum Up

I’m trying to say that, of course anesthesia is risky in the best of times, and riskier in old dogs. I’m also saying that each case needs to be evaluated on an individual basis. I assume you have a vet you have complete faith in, and if you don’t I hope you find one. I have an in-depth conversation (I’m a big asker of questions) about why the surgery is needed, are there alternatives, what are the benefits, types of anaesthesia and how can I help the recovery process.

I’ve had two dogs die at the hands of vets I had to go to in a pinch. I have no doubt the outcome would have been very different had I been able to see my trusted vet.

I’ve included some articles I found very interesting, in the resources section below. I recommend reading at least a couple of them, as I’ve found them all very informative.

Has your senior dog undergone surgery, or been put under anaesthesia for some other reason? How did things go? Were you happy with your decision or would you have done things differently in hindsight? Sharing helps others so leave your comments below.