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📞 Ask more about senior care: 010 739 9130
Many owners leave their old dog's rotting teeth or growing paws untreated because they fear the “heart can't handle anesthesia.”
This is a common but unfortunate fallacy. In reality age itself is neither a disease nor an obstacle to anesthesia.
Which is more dangerous: disease or anesthesia?
As veterinarians, we have to weigh the risks:
- Risk A (Anesthesia): When done correctly and controlled, the risk of modern anesthesia is low, even in the elderly.
- Risk B (Non-treatment): For example, stomatitis spreads bacteria to the heart and kidneys every day. Chronic pain takes away the zest for life.
Most often, the risk of untreated disease is many times that of controlled anesthesia.
How do we make anesthesia for an elderly person safe?
Veterinary Hospital Sacrum in Vantaa, we take special care with seniors (“Geriatric Anesthesia Protocol”):
- Mandatory blood tests: Before anesthesia, we always check the functioning of the liver and kidneys. If we find fault, we modify the medication and give intravenous hydration to support the body.
- Heart Listening/Ultra: If a murmur is heard in the heart, then, if necessary, we examine it with ultrasound before the procedure.
- Lighter substances: For the elderly, we use more gentle combinations of drugs that put minimal strain on the heart.
- Supporting blood pressure: We keep blood pressure stable during the procedure with fluid therapy.
Do not allow the dog to suffer pain due to age. A well-treated senior often recovers from anesthesia as early as the same night and lives pain-free for longer.
📍 Veterinary Hospital Sacrum — Porttisuontie 13, Vantaa
Is your dog slowing down? It may not just be old age, but treatable pain. Read on for 5 signs by which you can recognize the pain of a senior dog.
Failure to eat is life threatening to the cat. Read about why cat fasting leads to liver damage and when to go to the emergency room in Vantaa.
Does the dog limp on the front leg or the back leg? Read the vet's information pack for the most common causes: osteoarthritis, cruciate ligament injury, sprain or foreign object.
Not all lameness requires surgery. Read the veterinarian's assessment: when rest is enough and when surgery is needed (eg cruciate ligament, fracture, OCD).
The cat is flabby, hides or sleeps a lot? Apathy is a cat's way of telling about pain or illness. Read the most common reasons and when to go to the emergency room.
Dog vomits yellow, blood or foam? Read about when vomiting is an emergency and when home treatment is enough. Vantaa will be instructed by the veterinarian on duty.