Many pet owners have fears about general anesthesia, especially when deciding on the importance of an elective procedure, such as dental cleanings. At the Amherst Animal Hospital, we pride ourselves on the safety of our anesthetic procedures and our efforts to educate clients that the benefit of routine dental care far outweighs the risks of anesthesia. We also try to make your pet’s anesthetic procedure and hospital stay a very pleasant experience.

Mr. And Mrs. Karczewski and their seven year old miniature schnauzer, Mandy illustrate how extreme anxiety about anesthesia for a much needed dental cleaning can turn out to be a positive experience for everyone involved

Mandy has a condition called hyperlipidemia, or excessive fat in the blood, which is common in schnauzers. This condition commonly causes digestive problems and seizures in rare cases. Mandy is treated with a special diet and medication to lower the lipid level in her blood.

Mandy was in the hospital last year for a routine dental cleaning. She was given a very safe sedative, appropriate for a middle aged dog, prior to anesthesia and began to have seizures. She was treated for the seizures and referred to an internal medicine specialist for a neurologic evaluation. She was found to be normal and her seizures stopped. The dental cleaning was postponed. The cause of her seizures while in the hospital is unclear. Possible explanations include the hyperlipidemia, stress, and an allergic reaction to the sedative, which has never been reported in dogs with that particular drug.

A year later, Mandy was in for a routine exam and her dental disease had worsened. Dental disease can lead to dangerous health problems like heart and kidney disease. Mandy’s owners agreed to try the dental cleaning again; they understood the importance and had faith in our abilities.

To eliminate any possible stress and allergic reactions, Mrs. Karczewski stayed with Mandy during the entire procedure and minimal drugs were used. Instead of a sedative, we applied a topical anesthetic to Mandy’s leg and Mrs. Karzewski held her to eliminate pain and anxiety during placement of IV catheter. We gave her a short acting drug through the IV to cause her to fall asleep and then general anesthesia was used. Mandy’s teeth were cleaned and examined. As she woke up, Mrs. Karczewski talked to Mandy and stroked her. When the endotracheal tube was removed from her throat, she wagged her tail and licked her mom’s face over and over again. Mandy even licked the technician’s and Dr. Hill’s face. Mandy and Mrs. Karcewski went home less than an hour later and she has been fine ever since.

Thanks to her owners, Mandy has a clean, healthy mouth and we are reminded that special pets need special care and that’s what we are here for.