Ollie is going under general anesthesia Tuesday - concerned

I took Ally and Ollie to the vet today for a check-up. Ally is in perfect health. Ollie was close, but the vet remarked that his teeth and gums showed periodontal disease and tons of plaque. He thinks it is auto immune since Ollie isn't even 3 yet. So on Tuesday, they're putting him under to give him a thorough cleaning. Hopefully, this plus meds will put an end to it and any discomfort it might be causing him.

Anyways, what worries me is that when my dog went under anesthesia for the same, he lost his hearing. I suspect that he became hypoxic because somebody wasn't paying attention during the procedure. Is that rare or common? Should I worry about this procedure or not?

Probably stomatitis, same thing as my cat Bugsy...
Re. to anesthesia, Bugsy has been under quite a few times with no ill effects... I always get a blood panel prior to it, and an IV in case of emergencies.

My Kuki has this too. He's been under 3 times for a dental and is just fine. No biggie. Don't worry he should be fine. The only thing I would tell you is after the cleaning make an effort to try to up keep his teeth as much as you can on your own. I get some liquid from oxy fresh to put in his water as well as a gel that i apply on his gums every other day.

Deafness after anesthesia

General anesthesia may cause bilateral deafness from unknown causes. In rare cases, animals awaken from anesthesia deaf in both ears, often following ear cleaning or teeth cleaning. It may be the case that the body shunts blood away from the cochlea during anesthesia to protect other critical organs, or that pressure or jaw positioning compresses the arterial supply to the cochlea. A similar outcome is noted in humans with ischemia of the vertebrobasilar artery. The inner ear is especially vulnerable to reduced blood flow because it has no collateral circulation and the tissues have very high energy metabolism. None of the cases I have seen or had reported to me have recovered hearing except for two cases that may have been conductive deafness. This reinforces the need for a good otic examination to rule out ear canal obstruction or middle ear infections. It is not known if unrecognized cases of unilateral deafness result from anesthesia, since this condition is usually not recognized by owners.

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http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/Sudden.htm


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http://www.vetinfo.com/catear.html

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Complete hearing loss after teeth cleaning

Aww, poor little guy - but he's so lucky to have you. Mine have been under several times for cleanings with no ill effect. Like Carolina, I always opt for blood work prior and IV support during. It doesn't hurt to tell the vet your concerns. It's probably very unlikely that anything bad will happen, but, like your dog, bad things do happen.

I'll keep Ollie in my thoughts on Tuesday - and please update us how things are going. It's nervewracking while your're waiting for the call to pick up a healthy Ollie.

I would feel so much easier if they would allow me in the room to monitor the pulse-ox, but I realize that in all likelihood I'd just get in their way.

I looked at the options. I will definitely do the blood panel, but the options were "quick" (pre-anesthesia) vs. "full". I don't know what the difference is since they don't elaborate. I will also definitely go with an IV catheter.

I'm split on the pain injection. First of all - I would like to know what it is. Are we talking an opiate/opioid, NSAID, or other? The vet said it only makes sense if Ollie is having any teeth removed, but he mentioned that at Ollie's age, the chances of needing to remove any teeth are only slim. I'm tempted to have him given something for pain if it will alleviate any discomfort or suffering - but the flipside is that it's only worth doing if the side effects aren't worse than the discomfort. So, it comes back to knowing what they'd give him. I need to find out.

The last time I dropped Ollie off for something was in late 2009 I believe when he ate a toy and I got x-rays to double check that he wasn't going to run into any issues.

Waiting for him all day is going to be painful at best. This will sound silly, but I kind of want to have Ally be there with him before and after so he doesn't feel alone. The two of them are really a cohesive unit so-to-speak. I doubt they would accommodate such a request though.

My poor buddy is going to be all alone, scared, cold, and probably assuming that it's the end for him. If I don't do this though - I risk causing him organ issues, or at the least pain when he eats - which my dog has and is awful.

Lawguy, it is actually better that you are not there through it, as he can get stressed...
For anesthesia my dentist uses Isoflurane. For extraction pain, an injection of Nalbuphine is given (to Bugsy) before he gets off the table - then I come home with either Nalbuphine or Buprenex (Buprenex when there was no extractions, Nalbuphine when he had extractions).
The local anesthesia they use is Marcaine with Epi.
Make sure to say NO to Ketamine and NO Metacam
Bugsy had a rough surgery last time, so he was on wet only for 10 days... He came home looking like he had been hit by a truck, but on the second day he was doing SO much better already! They bounce back very quickly! Your baby is going to be fine

Originally Posted by Carolina

Probably stomatitis, same thing as my cat Bugsy...
Re. to anesthesia, Bugsy has been under quite a few times with no ill effects... I always get a blood panel prior to it, and an IV in case of emergencies.

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Just to add, I was given a little tour and informed the good places also use a warm water circulating heating pad, since kitty temperatures can drop dangerously low under prolonged anesthesia.

What I've done when I knew I had to leave them is put in both an old tee shirt that I've slept in (nice and smelly) in the carrier, and an old towel over the carrier, and told the staff that if they felt it safe, to feel free to put towel and tee-shirt in the recovery space...that way my babies still 'smelled' home. You may or may not get the tee-shirt/towel back - I was in such a hurry to get mine in the carriers, I didn't care what I was leaving behind.

I would discuss all the options with the staff prior to surgery - what permission you'll give in case there does need to be an extraction, etc. And, yes, probably just as well you're not in the surgery - just like human surgeons not operating on their own families. I know you have a medical background, so you're more at ease with various procedures, but it's still tough when it's your baby in there.

This is when you sort of appreciate your own parents most - when they kept up the calm and soothing facade and didn't fall apart until until the child couldn't see or hear them. Try and stay calm for Ollie's sake. And, even if he's upset when you come to get him, all will be forgiven once he's home (and let's hope Allie doesn't hiss too much as a homecoming).

Lots of prayers, though, for a very smooth, safe procedure and good news from the vet early on.

Just hoping that Ollie was first on the care list and early home...although, last time mine needed cleaning, turned out that a couple of emergency surgery cases came in which bumped my babies down the list til late in the day....since, knock wood, cleanings aren't usually too horrific. I was just a nervous wreck...although I got my taxes done and the condo cleaned.

Just saw this post and I assume Ollie is having the procedure today. Vibes to Ollie!

Yup, I'm late chiming in too, but sending

How's Ollie doing?

Lawguy, how is Ollie????

Hoping all is well - been checking on and off all day, and sending vibes that both of you are doing well.

I was nervous all day Tuesday. He seems to be fine though. Ally keeps hissing at him bc he smells odd but she'll get over it. My only worry is that tonight he feels like he might be starting a fever. I won't know for sure for a few more hours though.

Whew - thanks for checking in and I hope Ollie feels much better this morning. Allie will stop hissing soon enough, and hopefully Ollie isn't running a fever - but I know you've got the vet's number handy, just in case. And of course you were nervous! You're a good dad.

How did the cleaning go? My Dante has been having his teeth cleaned every year, yet Dharma goes longer between cleanings. I suspect a lot is genetic.

Anyway, hope you all have a good day, and please let us know how Ollie does today.

Thanks for the update LawGuy. Hope the possible fever amounts to nothing.

Lawguy, did they give you antibiotics to take home? He shouldn't be running a fever.... Convenia, BTW is a great antibiotic for this.... Is a one time injection. I like injections better as their mouths are so sore... My second option is injections of clyndamicyn, and 3rd (last case) oral clyndamicyn - which I don't give to Bugsy due to tummy problems

Originally Posted by Carolina

Lawguy, did they give you antibiotics to take home? He shouldn't be running a fever.... Convenia, BTW is a great antibiotic for this.... Is a one time injection. I like injections better as their mouths are so sore... My second option is injections of clyndamicyn, and 3rd (last case) oral clyndamicyn - which I don't give to Bugsy due to tummy problems

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He's on oral clyndamicyn, which he doesn't love the taste of, but I don't blame him. He does let me give it to him though. The fever didn't pan out fortunately. He must have been under the covers or something before I felt him, making him feel warmer than usual to me.

The cleaning I think went alright. He didn't make a fuss it seemed and was pretty relaxed when they brought him back to me, although his gums looked pretty painful, which I could relate to since I just had a deep cleaning/scaling myself a few weeks ago. Funnily enough, we both have auto-immune gum issues requiring often attention.

I'm going to try to brush his teeth one of these days as per the vet's orders. I just need to go buy a kevlar vest and a hockey mask first.