Cathy Moon
Well-known member
As many of you know, my blenheim boy Geordie is 5 years old and has grade 4 MVD along with SM. Recently we decided to have his teeth cleaned at the vets, knowing that dental health is important to keeping his heart healthy.
I was very nervous about Geordie getting a general anesthetic considering his health issues, and discussed it with two of our vets before scheduling his dental appointment. I even asked if it would be safer to 'sedate' Geordie than putting him under general anesthetic. The vets reassured me than today's general anesthetics are by far safer than sedation, which can impair breathing.
We took Geordie in for his dental early in the morning on December 30, and I spoke to the dental vet tech who would be handling Geordie. I explained about SM, and asked what positions he would be in while under anesthetic. She explained that he would be on a thick pad lying on his side, then she would turn him onto his other side to get to the other side of his mouth. She assured me he would be turned gently, and how he would be transferred on the pad to a cage for his recovery period.
Our vet explained what anesthetics would be used on Geordie - a Propofol injection for induction followed by Sevothane/Sevoflurane gas - these are very safe and used in pediatric medicine. Recovery from this type of anesthetic is very fast as compared to other anesthetics.
We waited at the vets during Geordie's procedure, and the vet came out to assure that all went well. Then at 11:00am, less than 2 hours from when we sat down to wait, Geordie was brought to us! We took him home and he had a drink of water; then 30 minutes later he ate his breakfast and went outside.
I'm posting this for two main reasons - first, certain anesthetics (Propofol and Sevothane) are very safe for dogs, even dogs with advanced MVD. Second, our vet told us it is safer for the dog (even dogs like Geordie with health issues, and dogs in worse health) to keep their teeth clean and their gums free of dental disease. Dental disease poses more of a health risk than these safe anesthetics.
Just a reminder: February is dental month in the US, when many vets provide a significant discount on dental appointments.
I was very nervous about Geordie getting a general anesthetic considering his health issues, and discussed it with two of our vets before scheduling his dental appointment. I even asked if it would be safer to 'sedate' Geordie than putting him under general anesthetic. The vets reassured me than today's general anesthetics are by far safer than sedation, which can impair breathing.
We took Geordie in for his dental early in the morning on December 30, and I spoke to the dental vet tech who would be handling Geordie. I explained about SM, and asked what positions he would be in while under anesthetic. She explained that he would be on a thick pad lying on his side, then she would turn him onto his other side to get to the other side of his mouth. She assured me he would be turned gently, and how he would be transferred on the pad to a cage for his recovery period.
Our vet explained what anesthetics would be used on Geordie - a Propofol injection for induction followed by Sevothane/Sevoflurane gas - these are very safe and used in pediatric medicine. Recovery from this type of anesthetic is very fast as compared to other anesthetics.
We waited at the vets during Geordie's procedure, and the vet came out to assure that all went well. Then at 11:00am, less than 2 hours from when we sat down to wait, Geordie was brought to us! We took him home and he had a drink of water; then 30 minutes later he ate his breakfast and went outside.
I'm posting this for two main reasons - first, certain anesthetics (Propofol and Sevothane) are very safe for dogs, even dogs with advanced MVD. Second, our vet told us it is safer for the dog (even dogs like Geordie with health issues, and dogs in worse health) to keep their teeth clean and their gums free of dental disease. Dental disease poses more of a health risk than these safe anesthetics.
Just a reminder: February is dental month in the US, when many vets provide a significant discount on dental appointments.
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