Anesthesia

Anesthesia is given to dogs to prevent them from feeling pain or even being aware of medical procedures. It’s used primarily during surgery and biopsy but also during radiation treatments and imaging procedures that require the dog to be completely still. Many different anesthetics could be used in various combinations, depending upon how deep and long a “sleep” your veterinarian wants. There are risks to anesthesia, as with any medical procedure, so dogs are often screened ahead of time to make sure it’s safe for them. Images of the chest (to check for healthy lungs and heart) and a complete blood count (to make sure there’s no infection or blood problems) are usually required. Some anesthesia drugs give a “twilight” effect, and the dog quickly recovers. Others have a deeper effect and require more recovery time after anesthesia ends.