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The most common question we are asked regarding dental cleanings is about the safety of general anesthesia. In general, if we recommend a procedure that requires general anesthesia, it is not an elective procedure. This means we feel that doing the procedure will have a beneficial impact on the overall health of the patient. Although some use the terminology “routine procedure,” anesthesia itself is not a routine process for the body. However, the drugs we use are safe and we monitor each patient very closely. We have a licensed technician and well trained staff that monitors all of the nuances of anesthesia and can make changes as needed during each procedure. I know this can be a scary process, so let me tell you how I made the decision when it was time for my cat Cleopatra.
Cleopatra was born with a rare condition called pectus excavatum, meaning her sternum grew inwards instead of out. This large dent in her chest caused her heart to be completely on one side of her body instead of in the middle and her lung lobes are a bit compressed. As a result she always has a high respiratory rate, she gets winded easily, and she is my excuse to always keep the air conditioner on. As a result, putting her under general anesthesia is always a bit nerve wracking for me.
I remember being very nervous to put her under general anesthesia for her spay and then a few years later for her dental cleaning. Everyone has heard of a seemingly healthy pet with no overt medical issues having problems with general anesthesia. Each time she needed a procedure, I had a heart to heart discussion with my husband about the pros and cons. Medically I knew she needed both of those procedures, and she was going to be monitored by a highly skilled group of professionals while anesthetized. Before the dental, my husband and I discussed how the amount of plaque on her teeth was negatively impacting her gums. She winced when I touched the red gums in her mouth and the plaque was causing gum disease that would eventually lead to further destruction. We decided that the benefits of going through with the dental were significant enough for us to proceed.
Cleopatra was monitored with the same equipment used in our practice. Her blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature were monitored regularly during the procedure and she recovered very nicely. Since her dental, I have kept her and her brother on T/D which has truly helped reduce the amount of tartar and helped with their gums.
It is important to think through the pros and cons whenever considering general anesthesia. Every pet is an individual and we need to make decisions based on their individual needs. Is the dental disease impacting our pet’s quality of life? If the answer is yes, then a dental is likely in order. Our doctor staff is happy to have this conversation and help you with this decision anytime.
Cleopatra lives with her Mom, Dr Barron, her Dad, Matt, her cat brother “Cosmo”, and her human sister, Shoshanna.
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