DS and Anesthesia

[LyonsFamily]

Are there any specific risks or complications associated with anesthesia and Dutch Shepherds? I've read about low body fat complications, but nothing else. Odin's going in on Thursday to get hip x-rays. We're likely going to have to sedate him to get a good shot, and for some reason I'm really nervous about it. I've talked to the vet about it, and we're going to try to do it without, but I really don't think he's going to let them get him into the right position.

[johninny]

Stephanie, i do not know the answer to your question, but i have a couple thoughts that you would probably already pursue without any words from me, but never hurts to say it anyway. when sedation has been unavoidable, i stress to the vet that - except in cases of major internal surgery - there is no real downside to under-sedation. i started doing this after once getting back a very groggy and limp dog after minor foot surgery. the next surgery with THAT vet, i insisted that sedation dose be cut in half - with fine results. if no prior sedation experience with a vet, just need to discuss and make your views known very clearly.

w/r/t to your specific question, i have no real knowledge - only my experience with Tracedog over 13 years. he was extremely lean. but he was all muscle and energy. doses that should have kept him tipsy for extended periods did no such thing - even in the months when he was very sick before he died. he would bounce back from sedation with a speed and force that shocked his doctors. like [probable] Odin [ but unlike my current pups ], he was completely uncooperative in imaging sessions, but in his very last month i would not allow any sedation, so doctors agreed based on my very special relationship with TD for me to be with him during imaging and indeed he trusted me enough to allow all sorts of probing with no sedation.

[Kazdog]

I don't know how prevalent the MDR1 mutation is in the DS breed, but it can effect drug tolerance. The mutation is present in 10% of GSDs. It might be similar in the DS.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/drugs.aspx

(This would be a good survey for either of the new DS breed clubs to do.)

[LyonsFamily]

Thanks for the suggestions.

John, I'll definitely ask about doing a lower dose to start. Perhaps we would be ok with just going with the premeds instead of the full anesthesia. I'm a little torn on asking to help with the x-rays. I know Odin can get into position with me there and a known person on the other end, and I've assisted with dozens of hip x-rays before when I worked as a vet assistant. He was my practice dog during training. He's been in every vet restraint taught and is pretty tolerant.

The big problem is that he's protective of me. He's usually completely fine with strangers if I'm not around, but is more on alert with me there and that's when he'll get figitey. I think if I'm the least bit nervous about it at all, he'll pick up on that. My family has been using this clinic for 15 years and we've had many dogs put under anesthesia there including a 7 week old puppy that needed major eye surgery and multiple follow-ups that required sedation without any problems, but Odin's never been there. My biggest fear is that they'll see teeth and not even attempt a lower dose.

[johninny]

I understand. on being there with him, Tracedog was also better behaved without me present, except at the end where I insisted on NO sedation, so now that I think about that, it is better for you to be out of his immediate awareness. but I am a big believer in lowest possible dose to get the job done - which is seldom how vets approach it. take a muzzle with you just in case there is resistance due to teeth??? if you are the one to put on a familiar muzzle, perhaps that would help matters.