Is Anaesthesia safe?
Veterinarians anaesthetise animals on a daily basis. At least once per week in any clinic, a pet owner expresses concern about anaesthesia: is it safe? Will my pet survive the procedure?
Modern anaesthesia is very safe. The risk of a pet dying under anaesthesia very low thanks to the advances in modern medicine. The rare patients that are lost under anaesthesia are generally emergency surgeries, when the patient’s condition is extremely critical. The risk of a pet dying under anaesthesia while undergoing a routine spay, neuter, dental or mass removal is extremely low, but this risk can be affected by the anaesthetic drugs used and the monitoring of the patient.
Can you imagine an anaesthesiologist in a human hospital using Ether or Chloroform in the 21st century? Of course not. But, unfortunately (and surprisingly,) there are no standards of care for veterinary anaesthesia, and some clinics are still using out-of-date techniques. Here is a list of questions to ask your veterinarian the next time your pet is scheduled for an anaesthetic event:
Additional commonly used monitoring techniques include:
Another concern many pet owners have is the cost of anaesthesia: Why is it so expensive? Why does Dr. X charge $375 for a dental while Dr. Y down the street only charges $100? As you can see, modern anaesthesia involves a lot of equipment and expertise, and this unfortunately costs money. Cutting corners by not intubating patients, not keeping patients warm or skimping on pain medications and monitoring can save money, but the price is decreased comfort and safety for your pet.