Ensuring your pet dog’s safety during medical procedures or surgeries is crucial. Administering anesthesia during these medical procedures is a common practice that veterinary professionals do.

Many dog owners are worried about their pet’s life regarding anesthesia as it has pros and cons. Nearly, one in 2000 healthy canines die every year under anesthesia. That’s why responsible dog owners need to know its potential complications and seek veterinary guidance to ensure their pet’s safety.

Are you a poodle owner wondering if anesthesia is safe for your furry friend? Here is a complete guide that help you decide whether you should opt for anesthesia for your canine. So, let’s start.

What is Anesthesia for Dogs?

Most dog owners seek guidance on whether anesthesia is safe for their poodle. Anesthesia is not entirely safe as it comes with risks that may have been reduced over the past years. However, poodle owners should be aware of the pros and cons of anesthesia before deciding. Responsible dog owners should ask questions to veterinarians regarding anesthesia. Most veterinarians don’t prefer explaining to owners the problems your pet might suffer from while under anesthesia.

Before digging into details, let’s first know what anesthesia is and its types.

Anesthesia is insensitivity to pain where the administration of gases or injections helps control your pet’s consciousness before a medical procedure. During any surgery, anesthetics are administered to make your pet’s experience pain-free and smooth. Besides, they make your pet immobile and unaware of his surroundings.

Anesthesia is necessary for neutering, dental procedures, x-rays, and CTIs. Canines undergo this reversible state of unconsciousness during surgeries, allowing veterinarians to do necessary interventions while ensuring the pet’s safety. Therefore, vigilant monitoring of the dog’s vital signs is crucial during surgery to prevent the risks of anesthesia.

During a surgical operation, your pet undergoes one of the two types of anesthesia. In general anesthesia, your pet’s whole body is immobilized using injections or inhalant anesthetic drugs. Your pet won’t feel any pain and won’t be able to process any stimulation from its surroundings.

In the case of local anesthesia, a specific region of your pet’s body is made numb using injections, sprays, or creams instead of the whole body. That means your furry companion is still fully conscious while in local anesthesia. The local anesthetics are effective and block the pain sensation along the nerve pathways. Generally, local anesthetics are used along with general anesthesia for improved pain relief in surgical and post-surgical conditions.

What are the Types of Anesthetics?

Various drug combinations are used to provide anesthesia for dogs. Depending on factors like your pet’s age, health status, and the type of surgical procedure, you can opt for one of the types of anesthesia.

Generally, anesthetics are of two types:

• Injectable anesthetic drugs can be used for local or general anesthesia. These drugs can be short-acting or long-acting medications. Short-acting drugs make your pet anesthetized promptly and are injected continuously throughout the procedure. Long-acting injectable anesthetics make your dog sleepy during the whole process.
• Inhalant anesthetic drugs (gases) are used in general anesthesia. They are administered using an endotracheal tube placed in your dog’s windpipe.

When Anesthesia is Necessary for Poodles?

Anesthesia is necessary in case your dog or poodle is suffering from a life-threatening condition that needs surgery. Anesthesia controls your pet’s body movements during surgical procedures, easing pain.

The fact is that no two dogs are alike; therefore, anesthesia will be catered to your poodle’s requirements. Before starting the protocol, your vet will perform pre-anesthesia laboratory testing to evaluate your dog’s health status, which can endanger the procedure.

First let me explain situations where surgery may be unavoidable.

Violently acute issues. There are situations when you’ll have no time to think about it. Without emergency surgery, your pet will die.

Traumatic accidents: your dog is hit by a car, a bad dog fight or any physical trauma causing massive bleeding, wounds to organs, fractured bones or cranial trauma.

Orthopedic issues; a broken leg, joint disease etc

Intestinal surgery: from a foreign body like a bone or toy or an intussusception.

Bone cancer: this can be so irredeemably agonizing that the only way to palliate the pain is to amputate the limb involved or euthanize your friend.

Urinary blockage: from bladder stones (usually in male dogs). Again, this can cause death fairly quickly. You can dissolve many types of stone with diet, but if many stones form before diagnosis, a blockage may be an acute problem that must be dealt with.

A bitch whelping with a stuck puppy and not responding to holistic or non-surgical interventions.

Pros of Anesthesia for Poodles

Although anesthesia might seem scary to many pet owners, it is beneficial for your canine friend in numerous ways:

• Anesthesia ensures your poodle doesn’t suffer any pain during surgical procedures, resulting in a comfortable experience and smoother recovery.
• Anesthesia keeps your poodle still during medical examinations or surgeries, as sudden movements can result in injuries or interfere with the procedure.
• Unconsciousness during the procedure reduces your poodles’ anxiety and stress, promoting quick recovery.
• Anesthesia helps veterinarians perform intricate procedures (in case of tooth decay, liver failure, tracheal collapse, kidney issues, Cesarian Section) accurately without causing discomfort to your poodle.

Cons of Anesthesia for Poodles

Although anesthesia is safe for canines, some risks or complications may occur. These issues may range from increased heart rate or swelling at the injection site to hypoxia (difficulty breathing), maintaining the body temperature, or organ failure. In the worst-case scenario, dogs can suffer from anaphylactic shock or death.

If your pet has a flat face (brachycephalic), there is a high chance of reflux of stomach material in your dog’s airways, blocking air passage and collapsing the trachea. In this case, a breathing tube is inserted in your dog’s trachea, which will be removed once your dog becomes stable.

These complications can lead to severe consequences depending on your dog’s age, immunity, and previous health issues.

Risk Factors for Poodles Undergoing Anesthesia

Although anesthesia can benefit your canine or poodle, it comes with certain risks that pet owners should consider. Some dogs have a high anesthetic risk depending on breed, size, health, or age. These risks can run from minor problems like vomiting or difficulty in walking to significant issues like blood loss, organ failure, or death.

You can manage the anesthetic risks by considering the following factors:

Age

Puppies older than three months can be anesthetized; however, their response to drugs is lower due to underdeveloped organs. Their lower body and smaller size make them vulnerable to hypotension, so it’s essential to keep them warm during surgery.

The risk of anesthesia becomes high if your poodle is older, as his organs are not functioning properly. In this condition, anesthesia can alter your pet’s function. Particularly, if your older poodle has low blood pressure, their blood flow may not be optimal and can lead to organ failure, especially the liver and the kidneys.

Senior poodles should be prepared for anesthesia by having baseline work done before surgery. In this way, your veterinarian can identify any underlying problems and make preparations for them.

Weight

If your poodle has gained or lost some weight, your vet will adjust the recommended drug dosage, tailoring it according to your pet’s body weight. Smaller canines need less medication as there’s less fat and muscles for the drugs to redistribute through.

Overweight or obese poodles are challenging to position during surgery and suffer from breathing issues. The fat deposition around the chest wall makes it difficult for the lungs to expand and get enough oxygen. Anesthesia reduces their respiration levels; therefore, a breathing tube might help them.

Breed

Like Poodles, canines with a history of tracheal collapse are at a high risk of complications during anesthesia. So, poodle owners should be aware that their pets will suffer frequent coughing over the next week after intubation. Antibiotics, steroids, and cough suppressants are sometimes administered to reduce the risk of infection and inflammation following intubation.

Prior Medical Conditions

Generally, anesthesia risks for canines are lower. However, giving anesthesia should be reconsidered if the risks outweigh the benefits or if your poodle already has heart, tracheal, or pulmonary disease.

Other medical conditions like kidney disease, dehydration, myopathy, or unregulated diabetes also make anesthesia riskier. That’s why discussing your pet’s medical history with your vet before starting the protocol is recommended. This will help your veterinarian to have an idea of any underlying problems.

What You Can Do to Reduce Your Poodle’s Risk of Anesthesia?

The risks of anesthesia in a poodle dog can be reduced by taking the following measures:

• Keep your poodle healthy with preventive care and maintain a healthy weight to prevent complications.
• You should know your pet’s medical history, including any prior surgery and surgery-related complications.
• Take measures to avoid injuries whenever possible.
• Avoid feeding anything to your poodle 12 hours before the surgery. Fasting is essential before administering anesthesia, as food can cause choking in your pet, leading to severe consequences.

Here are some measures that a veterinarian should take before anesthetizing your poodle:

• A veterinarian must examine your poodle for any sensitivity issue to medicine or anesthetic agent.
• Monitoring vital organs and doing physical examinations for injuries is essential.
• Monitoring your pet’s blood pressure and body temperature during and after the procedure is also crucial for veterinarians.
• An intravenous catheter should be prepared and inserted in the case of an emergency.
• Calculating the proper dose of anesthetic is vital as any negligence at this step can cause a severe life threat to your poodle’s life.
• A veterinarian must consider administering further doses of anesthetics if required during surgery to make things go smoothly.

Preparing Your Poodle for Anesthesia

Planning before your poodle experiences anesthesia makes the procedure as safe as possible. Here are some steps that will help you and your veterinarian to reduce the complications:

Preoperative Care

Before starting the procedure, your veterinarian will physically examine your poodle one week before surgery, including all blood work (blood count, blood chemistry, electrolyte test) to know your pet’s health status. You will be asked to provide your pet’s medical history, including allergies. At this point, you can query about the procedure, risks, recovery, and alternatives to surgery. I can’t stress enough the importance of a healthy immune system that’s able to expel the toxic exposure to synthetic drugs. To bust the immune system is the best way to go to prepare for an invasive surgery. The quality and balanced of raw species appropriate diet, fresh water and air, an active athletic body, sun exposure and a healthy low stress and hormonal balances are the first steps to take to supplement your pet’s health and vitality. Quality herbs, tonics and remedies are also a wonderful way to bust naturally your pet’s immune system. If you have more questions about how to boost your furry friend’s immune system feel free to reach out and ask.

On the Day of Surgery

On the day of the surgery, avoid feeding anything to your pet 12 hours before the surgical procedure. Clean your pet before and keep him as calm as possible. Once you arrive at your vet’s clinic, your pet will be given oral medication 4 hours before the surgery.

Postoperative Care

Postoperative care is essential; give your poodle enough time to recover. Here are some things to consider for your poodle in this regard:

• Follow your vet’s medication instructions, if antibiotics and pain-relieving medications are prescribed. But please we aware that not all surgeries or dogs need antibiotics as preventive and can cause havoc and disrupt the intestinal flora by killing the good and the bad bacteria affecting the immune system.
• Provide your poodle with a clean, warm, and comfortable living environment, and keep an eye on him. Always trust your gut feeling because you are know your dog best.
• Don’t let your canine scratch or lick his wounds to prevent infections.
• Offer a palatable and energy-rich raw food for faster wound healing.
• Keep your poodle isolated from other pets and children at your home.
• Restrict your pet’s movement and provide him a complete bed rest.

Will My Pet Need Special Care Following an Anesthesia?

Your veterinarian will keep your poodle until he fully recovers from the anesthetic. Once your poodle reaches home, make sure to provide him a complete rest for 24 hours. However, you should continue your pet’s normal eating and drinking routine. Your holistic veterinarian is just a phone call away, so contact your vet if you have any concerns or queries regarding your canine’s recovery.

Why Fasting is Necessary for My Pet Before an Anesthetic?

Some anesthetic agents make your met feel nauseous. Make sure your pet doesn’t vomit under anesthesia, as your pet can inhale some of the vomit, leading to trouble. If you have already fed your pet before anesthesia, let your vet know so he can take measures or reschedule your pet’s surgery.

Do Anesthesia Effects Differ in Poodles from Other Breeds?

There is not much difference in anesthetic effects observed in poodles from the other breeds. However, certain breed differences can result in more significant risks of anesthesia-related deaths. Genetic predisposition, size, and a dog’s overall health can influence canine anesthetic effects, including poodles.

For instance, many canines are susceptible to acquired or congenital cardiac disease. Therefore, knowing which breed is most likely to be affected before planning the anesthetic protocol is crucial. In the case of cardiac disease, a complete cardiac workup with a veterinary cardiologist is advisable.

Here are some dog breeds that suffer unique challenges during anesthetic procedures:

• Brachycephalic breeds suffer from brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS), which may affect anesthetic outcomes.
• Sighthounds face the risk of hypothermia during anesthetic procedures due to their lower body fat percentage.
• Toy breeds face lower body temperature and hypoglycemia conditions during anesthesia due to their high metabolic rate and greater body surface area to body mass ratio.

Although knowing breed-related anesthetic differences is essential, the primary concern should be the individual patient and tailoring the anesthetic protocol accordingly. Safe and successful anesthesia can be performed in any dog breed through proper preoperative workup and appropriate pet monitoring.

Anesthesia Protocol for Poodles

This is something that all Poodle owners should know before making a decision regarding their pet’s anesthesia. 

Being intelligent and elegant canines, poodles have a delicate temperament that needs special attention when it comes to anesthetizing them during medical procedures. Although conventional anesthesia works best for many canines, certain breeds, like poodles, show adverse reactions or are highly sensitive to standard procedures, resulting in painful post-anesthesia experiences. 

It’s crucial for responsible poodle owners to understand the unique challenges their poodles face with conventional anesthesia. Most pet owners have noticed distressing post-anesthesia behavior in their poodles. These behavioral changes include:

• Confusion
• Violent and/or wobbly gait
• Increased anxiety, dysphoria
• Visual impairments
• Clotting disorders
• System organ failure of the liver, kidney, or heart.
• Seizures
• Not eating
• Coughing

Therefore, keeping in mind these sensitivities of poodles, there is a need for alternative protocols for anesthetizing your pet. Traditional anesthesia, which involves the use of Acepromazine or a similar agent, might not be a suitable option for sensitive Poodles. Although cost-effective, these agents won’t provide the best post-anesthesia outcomes for your poodles. Let’s not forget the pre and post operative holistic support along with a gentle detox is highly recommended to avoid induced neurotoxicity side effects of any synthetic drugs.

Alternative Approach for Poodles 

Is there any alternative option for your poodles? Definitely, yes. 

An alternative approach includes exploring less invasive and more tailored anesthesia options, which bring safety and comfort to your poodle during the medical procedure. However, considering factors like your pet’s age, size, breed, and medical profile and performing a pre-anesthetic evaluation of your poodle can affect the anesthesia choices. 

Some of these effective and safe alternative options for your poodle include:

Gas Anesthesia 

Using gas inductors for anesthetizing a poodle provides a gentle and more gradual sedation process. This method is beneficial for your poodle companion, providing rapid induction and recovery as well as reducing the chances of violent reactions due to anesthesia. 

Pre-Anesthetic Injections

Administering a pre-anesthetic injection of well-calibrated mixes like diazepam, torbutrol and/or ketamine gives effective and safer outcomes and provides optimal pain management. Often used for anesthetizing cats, this approach can significantly reduce the post-anesthetic distress noticed in sensitive poodles. 

Individualized Protocols  

Tailoring the anesthesia protocol according to the specific needs and sensitivities of each poodle can significantly help in post-anesthesia recovery. For more favorable outcomes, it’s better to work closely with a holistic veterinarian to devise a personalized plan depending on your canine’s health, age, and prior anesthesia reactions. 

It’s necessary for veterinarians to educate pet owners regarding these alternative options. Veterinarians should encourage discussions regarding anesthesia protocols best suited for your Poodles. Pet owners should prioritize their pet’s well-being, even if it means opting for expensive but safer and less invasive choices. 

Choosing a veterinarian who understands your pet’s safety and offers these alternative anesthesia protocols is crucial. A vet who acknowledges and accommodates the unique sensitivities of Poodles shows his commitment to ensuring a safe medical experience for your beloved pet. 

Conclusion

Is anesthesia safe for your poodle? Yes or no. Anesthesia is not entirely safe for your pet; however, it has become far more reliable and safer after the last decade. Remember, not even two pets show the same reaction to an anesthetic. The risks of anesthesia are more related to its procedure and your pet’s general health than anesthesia itself. However, dog owners should be aware of the anesthesia risks and ask questions from veterinarians to ensure their pet’s safety before making a decision. Your Poodles depend on you to take wise and informed choices. I highly encourage my clients to avoid whenever possible. And almost always, it’s not necessary. That said, there are rare situations where surgery may be necessary. This brings a toxic load of drugs and anesthetic agents, combined with the abrupt physical shock of the surgeon invading the body. Even well- intentioned surgery is inherently violent and difficult to except if you want to care for your pet in a holistic, harmonious way. the good news is that if surgery does become necessary, there are many things you can do to support your dog through surgery using a holistic approach.

Canine Sensitive Breed Anesthesia Protocol
                         

This is something all Sensitive Canine Breeds need to know.
Canines such as French Bulldogs cannot tolerate intravenous anesthesia and should have pure gas to put them under during surgical procedures-i.e. spaying/neutering, teeth cleaning etc.  Isoflurane is the best gas for this use. Smaller tubing such as used for Chihuahua’s is the correct size.  Intravenous anesthesia can easily cause death in this breed. To be safe Frenchies should not be put under anesthesia until 6 months of age unless an emergency is required. Young Frenchies are more prone to have adverse reactions to anesthesia. You should wait till you pup is at least 5-6 months of age before undergoing any routine surgical procedures involving anesthesia.

ADVISE STRONGLY AGAINST USING:
Pentobarbital aka Pentathol (injectable anesthesia)
Metofane (inhalant gas)
Halothane (gas anesthesia)
Ace Promazine
WARNING: Many Frenchies and other brachycephalic breeds have experienced adverse side effects, even death from the use of ACE Promazine.  Please don’t take a chance! In Dr Hunts own words:
“I do not believe in acepromazine for any brachycephalic breed… I stand steadfast on that point. In fact, I don’t like its use in most dogs… There are so many other, better options nowadays and ace is an old time drug, I see no reason to use it.”

USE WITH CAUTION:
Dormitor (reversible anesthesia/sedative)

SATISFACTORY CHOICES FOR FRENCHIES:
Ketamine (usually used in combo with valium as an injectable anesthesia/sedative)
Valium (see above)
Torbutrol (analgesia)

OPTIMUM CHOICES:
Propofol (injectable)
with either of the following 2 gas anesthetics as a maintenance:
Isoflurane(aka IsoFlo) OR Sevoflurane (aka SevoFlo)

ANESTHESTIC EXTRAS:
(These would be in addition to the Optimum anesthetic protocol listed above, and are highly recommended for c-sections or longer procedures)
Atropine given at induction.
IV catheter & fluids
Famotidine (Pepcid) injection (helps cut down on nausea and post-op vomiting, hence aspiration)
Dexmethasone injection (may be given if palate is very long or irritated from ET tube; this can reduce post-op swelling and make recovery easier)

(This is in addition to the Optimum anesthetic protocol listed above) Atropine given at induction Place the mom-to-be on IV fluids Oxytocin injections (usually one after all the pups are out and she begins sewing up the uterus and the second about 20-30 minutes later) Antibiotic injection post-op
 

INTUBATION vs. MASKING/CONING DOWN:
EVERY brachycephalic dog or sensitive dog that goes under anesthesia should have an endotracheal tube (ET) placed in his or her trachea! Always! That airway must be protected at all times. The tube should be left in until they are VERY awake and trying to chew it out. Use the intravenous propofol to induce anesthesia (which puts them under) and allows sufficient time to place the ET tube. From then on, anesthesia is maintained with sevo or iso.

Be Careful when masking a poodle down. Masking can be harder on toy breeds, tracheal collapsing breeds, brachycephalic dogs because they struggle to hold their breath, which can irritate the airways and deplete their oxygen levels (which you do not want before surgery). It is my opinion that using injectable and then tubing them gives them the optimum oxygen supply that is ideal for some breeds.
 
 Of course, this protocol is not to become the be-all-end-all inclusive protocol for anesthesia. It was intended to help sensitive breed owners to bring awareness, learn and communicate with their vet/ surgeon to ensure a safe outcome for your furry best friend. Our pets depend on us!