German Shepherds and Anesthesia - Page 1

Are there any known complications with German Shepherds and anesthetics? Do you recommend doing bloodwork prior to having a dog sedated for something like a hip xray?

My male has had 4 different times in his life so far where he had to be sediated, he will be 5 in January.  I have the blood work done every time.  Also the first time I have my dogs tested for hemophilia and Von Willebrand's Disease which is a form of hemophilla.  Hemophilia is in the GSD lines.

I don't take having a dog sediated lightly.

Puputz, I do not say this to cause fear, but it is a fact that many dogs have died while under anesthaesia even while under careful supervision by an experienced veterinarian. There is a two-part anesthaesia that can be given. The first injection calms and sedates the dog and the second will quickly revive him. I believe the anesthaesia is called "Domitor" but I could be incorrect.

I do not allow any of my dogs to be anesthaesized for any reason save for surgery. It seems to be true that the larger breeds have more sensitivity to this. I do allow just enough to calm the dog for something such as radiographs.

Good Luck,

Bob-O

Hi,

In my experience with my own dogs, they have all done quite well with anesthesia and with a variety of different anesthetics.  I always do run bloodwork beforehand no matter how old they are!  All three have had the two part one as you've called it, Domitor and then Antisedan to wake them up and they've all done very well with it.  This also worked very well in conjunction with an injection of Torbugesic or Buprenex.  Two have had a premed of Torb/Ace, then intibated with Propofol and maintained on Isoflurane gas.  Both did well with that as well and woke up quite well too, just a little quiet that night and then back to normal the next day.  My older bitch was spayed a few years back with Ket/Val and a premed of Torb and also did quite well, her only "side effect" was some vomiting that night, heck I feel nauceous (sp?) too after sedation!  Sometimes with Domitor it causes them to want to urinate more that night, but otherwise, they do quite well with it.  I'm lucky enough to work at a vet and get to see exactly what happens so that puts my mind at ease.  Though recently while sedating my male myself (always an interesting feeling) I was a little nervous.  LOL  In that case, I tend to have to pretend that it's just like any other animal that I'm sedating!  I've had propofol myself several times unfortunately in the past couple of years and I have to say, it's great stuff!  You wake up quickly and generally speaking without feeling all that loopy.  So, for xrays and the like, we use Domitor/Antisedan and for any kind of surgery unless it's very very minor we use propofol.  Just my two cents.  Get to work with the stuff everyday.