When your veterinarian suggests lab work for your dog, it can raise alarms in your head that something is seriously wrong. However, lab work is critical in determining what is making your dog feel ill and is also necessary for establishing baselines in a healthy dog for the sake of identifying future issues. Of course, it’s very natural for you to have questions. That is why we’ve taken the most frequently asked questions about dog lab work and answered them here.
If you have additional questions about various lab tests your dog may need, please call your primary care veterinarian for details.
As veterinarians, we use a few different forms of dog sedatives or anesthesia. First, we administer pre-anesthetic medication to calm your pet and to help with pain management. The pre-anesthetic also helps your dog wake up more smoothly after their procedure. Then we administer induction anesthesia, which puts the dog to sleep to be intubated and started on general anesthesia. General anesthesia is typically a gas that is safely delivered by an endotracheal tube.
Administering different types of anesthesia in stages allows us to use fewer drugs overall and makes anesthesia safer for your canine companion.
Your dog will need anesthesia if they ever undergo surgery or another type of painful procedure, like getting stitches to repair a wound. We also use anesthesia for dental procedures and x-rays which require us to keep your dog’s mouth open for extended periods.
Certain breeds are more sensitive to anesthesia than others, particularly sighthounds and greyhounds. These breeds often experience hypothermia with certain types of anesthesia and sedation. Additionally, brachycephalic breeds — or breeds with those adorable smooshed faces — often have breathing problems. While this does not cause much trouble during the procedure when they are breathing through a tracheal tube, we have to monitor them closely while they’re waking up to ensure they aren’t having any problems.
We will perform a comprehensive physical exam on your dog before their procedure to assess their risk. We may also do blood work to make sure their organs are functioning correctly and will be able to process the anesthesia medications. We will also provide you with pre-procedure instructions.
Our team will discuss any requirements with you when scheduling your dog’s procedure, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions.
Modern anesthesia protocols are safe, and serious complications are rare. However, because we are taking control of their breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, there is always a level of risk involved.
These complications are most common in senior pets and those with underlying heart disease or kidney disease. We take every precaution to ensure that dogs are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and discuss the risks before your pet’s procedure.
While your dog is under a sedative, we will use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment to keep a close eye on several vital signs.
We will also have an EKG running during the procedure, and a trained veterinary staff member will be physically monitoring your dog every step of the way.
We will keep a close eye on your pet while they recover from sedation or anesthesia. Once they have recovered enough to go home, we will contact you to provide aftercare instructions and let you know when to pick up your furry friend.
Your dog may still be a bit drowsy following the procedure. This is normal, but you need to confine them to a safe area to avoid falling or getting hurt. Limit their interaction with children and other pets, so they don’t get overwhelmed. If we administered IV fluids during your dog’s procedure, they may have a full bladder and might not be able to hold bowel movements as long as usual. Your dog may also have a decreased appetite for 24 to 48 hours.
Contact your primary care veterinarian right away if your dog underwent surgery and is showing signs of excessive pain or their incision appears infected. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, call us at 512.892.9038!
Our hospital works in conjunction with your primary care veterinarian through consultations and direct referrals!
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