Nuetering w/ Isoflurane
 

Are there any vets or vet techs who can answer some questions for me? I talked w/ my vet about the Isoflurane and they said they use it as a maintenance for the anesthetic, and that they don't like to use it as primary because a nueter isn't a long procedure where they need to be under that long. I keep reading on here about how the iso is the best, but when I google it I really don't find anything backing it up. Anyone have any info on it w/ references. This is also a new vet to us, but everyone I know who goes to them loves them and wouldn't go anywhere else. Or even if someone knows a 24hr number I can call just to get some facts on the anesthetic. I'm so torn, I don't know what I should do. I trust majority of the people on here, but I also trust the vet who has very good references and went to school for medicine.

Ok wait, I'm confused...I THOUGHT my vet said the iso lasts longer, but I found something and it says it has a short half life. I'm soo confused!

No one?
 

It's OK. I just kept browsing and finally some answers popped up. I think I'm going to cancel his appointment with this vet if they won't use iso. The first vet uses iso, but it's going to cost like $200 more, which is a lot when I'm not working :( Plus, they keep the animals over night. This really sucks. I wish I didn't have to get him nuetered. :cry:

Two hundred more to use isoflurane? My vet used sevoflurane, which is more expensive than isoflurane, did bloodwork, pulled a tooth and gave us pain medication for $218.

That really stinks. I would keep looking and would not use a vet that didn't use isoflurane or sevoflurane. Good luck.

No, this vet is more expensive. The one that doesn't use iso told me it would be about $170, but the other vet that does use iso is quoting me like $350. On the quote from them it says the iso is $40. I'm calling the vet tomarrow, and if they say they won't use it then I'm canceling. Yeah the $200 is a lot right now, but I'm not losing my baby over it.

I see.
Three fifty seems outrageous to me but I don't know Chicago.

I can't win!
 

I've been calling around different vets, and it seems that all the ones that DO use isoflurane keep them over night. The ones who don't use the iso let them go home the same day. This sux :(

Poli had isoflurane and got to come home same day !

Yeah but your in Washington! I can't go THAT far for a vet! LOL

There is no reason to keep the dog overnight. My vets always use iso for the toy dogs, for surgries and teeth cleanings. The dogs wake up with the Iso much faster. I will not allow my dogs to be kept overnight unless there will be someone in the office all night. what if something happens when no one is there? If they are at home you can watch and care for them.

Exactly! No one even stays overnight with them. A couple of them said I could talk to the doctor and see if they'll make an acception. I understand they want the dog to stay confined and not to run around, and if they want I could bring him back first thing in the morning for them to check on him, like they would if he was to stay over night. This whole thing is soo stressful! I wish he wasn't cryptorchid then I would just say forget it!

Well gee why not ???:0

Me vet's office always tells me
 

that mine must stay overnight also but the vet usually makes an exception and lets me pick them up same day if they are doing well. I had my yorkie neutered last month and they charged $95 for the neuter and $48 for the pre-blood work and pulled 2 baby teeth for free. I guess that was a bargain. I know Chicago is more expensive though because we lived there for 15 years.

I bet if you insist they will let you take your baby home the same day.

Isoflourine is GAS, not IV anesthetic and it is used because it lasts SHORTER than the liquid anesthetic. Neuter isn't a long procedure and with the Iso gas they wake up right away whereas with the liquid IV anesthetic, they are out a pretty good while.

As far as spending the night, I would make an appointment to go talk to your vet one on one in his office and explain to him that you want to take your dog home after the neuter and you promise to keep him confined. The only reason the vet wants him to spend the night is because they do not need to be running around, going up or down stairs, jumping on or off the couch/bed after the surgery. If you can promise him that your dog won't do these things, then I'm sure he'll let you take him home.

When I was talking to Grayslake Animal hospital about spaying I told them I would sign a release but that I would take her home the same night as they do not have anyone with them all night, I could stay up and watch her and get her to the er vet in 7 minutes. They had no problem with that. She ended up having it done at Animal emergency and was in for 36 hours with some complications.

Were really considering GL. I was on the phone with them for awhile this morning discussing the anesthetics. I really want him to go there, but it's soo expensive. If Fox Lake won't use Iso though, then he will go to GL, or someone who will use Iso and let him come home the same day. Did you have it done at the Animal Emergency off 120? I called them once when I thought Rocky was sick, and really didn't like the impression of them over the phone. If you did go to them, how were they to you?

Minnie is getting spayed today and there using ISO, blood work, and I will be getting pain med for 74.00 and she will be home today.

Minnie is getting spayed today and there using ISO, blood work, and I will be getting pain med for 74.00 and she will be home today. Just even ask me to bring a favorite blanket if she had one.;)

Hey!
 

CHICAGO?
;)
If you'd like to talk to MANY GREAT vets that I know
(I work at a local Dog Training/Boarding/Grooming/Veterinary Rehab Facility in Grayslake) then I'd be glad to give you their numbers!!!
Arlington Heights Animal Hospital (Dr. Sefcik-who is retired now) is a GREAT place to ask all of these new latest questions! And they're not ridiculously out of your way I'm sure.

I moved to Arizona, but I'm pregnant and so I moved back here to Illinois to be w/ friends and family until the little one is born, so I'll be here until the end of March, early April.
PM me or e-mail me if you've got more questions!
~Leslie Wooldridge
topsredhead@yahoo.com

I think AH is like 30mins from me, I could be wrong though. I did find one that will use Iso and let me take him home the same day, they finally called me back at like 8 last night. But I'm not sure where in Gurnee it is, my mom thinks it might be this one, and if it is she was like "I don't know if I would wanna go there"...so I don't know. I still gotta call him vet and see if they'll do iso per my request. I do have a question though, how long after I have his bloodwork done should his neuter be, like what's the longest I should wait.

My Vet charged for Izzie's spay, teeth pulling and blood work $219.00

Blood work - $29.00
Spay - $110.00
Laser Fee - $50.00
6 teeth pulled - 30.00

I didn't think that was bad at all. She stayed overnight, but there was someone there with her.

Rae Rae
The pre anesthetic blood panel is usually done the day of the surgery.
Which hospital in Gurnee did you discover? I would think that Arlington Heights A.H would be closer to you.

Animal Hospital of Gurnee?- if so, I'd ask for Dr. (oh crap, mind blank!) it's a father/son practice. The son mostly works on cattle and so on, but does see small animal patients. I really like them there, their bedside manner is fabulous as well and the facility is quite clean. You're more than welcome to get a tour of this small facility-they'll even show you the surgical room if you ask!

Gurnee Animal Hospital?- No experience w/ them.

Topher's vets used iso when I requested it..the charge was a minimal increase. She told me at the time that all vets in Canada are going to be using only iso in the future...she expressed a concern about this as large animals, like horses need to wake up more slowly so as not to injure themselves (or the caregivers). She expressed that it was nice to have a choice, depending on the circumstances.

It was just Animal Health Clinic on Washington St. I'm from Gurnee, so I'm really familiar with the area and all, and go there a few times a week still. I really never go to AH.

There was Grand Animal Hospital in Gurnee which doesn't usually keep the animals over night, and uses propazal but it's $264 for the nueter alone :eek:

before you do anything let me help clear some stuff up for you, i used to be a vet tech.

I know your upset about the vet not using straight isoflurane for the procedure. The truth is your vet is right, if what your vet uses is the same stuff we used at my hospital which was propoflo. Propoflo is a liquid anesthetic that is given IV. Its an induction agent which can last up to 20 minutes if given the proper dose. the iso really is just a maintance anesthetic. Once the propoflo is given the dog will be hooked up to iso but not given as much as they would be if they were knocked down with iso instead of propoflo. the iso is used in conjunction with oxygen so i'm sure what your vet means is he's just pumping more oxygen in then iso so your pup has an easier time waking up. Iso stays in the system longer then propoflo which is why when your dog is sent home they still look really doped up. when propflo is only given the dog wakes up much fast and is normal again within half an hour usually. The short half life your talking about probably isn't compared to propoflo, its probably compared to other inhaled anesthetics which in that case the information you found on half life is correct. it leave the system faster then other inhaled anesthetics.

Also the prices your talking about is about the same as Jersey. I paid $375 for morgan is be spayed, microchiped and have 6 teeth pulled. she was on iso maintanence and was induced with propoflo. she was on iso longer then usual because they had to pull the teeth and microchip her so she was sleepy much of the rest of the night after i took her home. (tho not sleepy enough not to beg for food when i was eating lol ) the cost of iso is going to vary because it is based on how long the vet thinks your dog will be under. there is usually an induction fee and then a maintenance fee for every 20 minutes they are under and it also depends on weight.

i hope this helps a little to clear things up and settle your mind. if you have any other questions please feel free to ask me.

This vet doesn't want to use the iso at all! The second vet explained to me how they use the iso as a maintenance, and I'm fine with that. The first vet uses telazol, but I don't get what their using as a maintenance for it. Telazol doesn't really last that long, and even the second vet was questioning if they just kept injecting it, and if that's the case I definitly don't want him to go there.

ah, telazol. i'm not too familiar with it because we never used it. its like the ketamine/valium combo we use on cats but i think its stronger. from what i've heard about telazol i'm not that comfortable using it and i wouldn't neuter my dog with it. if that's the drug they are going to use and they won't switch or use anything else then i would do to another vet for the neuter. i don't know why they won't use something else if your so uncomfortable using the telazol. they should listen to your concerns and provide another why to do it.

I switched vets just for the fact that they will not let Peanut come home the same day. They told me they can be nippy afterwards. Does anyone know this could be? Peanut goes next month and the new vet said he will be just fine.

nippy?? that was their excuse? that's stupid. if anything peanut will be exhausted and sleep the rest of the night.

Thats way I changed vets. He is my dog and I don't want anyone telling me what I can and cannot do. I could see if it was serious, but it is routine and they are the only vets that keep them over night in my area. I can watch him better then anyone. They don't love him the way I do.:D

I would only think they would nip in the case that they are tired, in pain, or something like that and someone keeps bothering them. Like an old dog or something. I really doubt it though, I've never heard of it.