Confused About Anesthesia

[Wogger]

I'm confused about which anesthesia is best for my yorkie, Molly (she'll be 5.5 mos. and weighs about 2.5 lbs). She is to be spayed 2/27 and the vets office said they use Telazol for the tiny breeds and Iso... for the larger dogs. I thought it was the other way around.

Which is the very safest for my baby. I'm sooooo nervous about taking her in. She will also have a tiny umbilical hernia repaired.

Is Telazol safe for my baby?

Thanks so much

[Ellie May]

I have never heard of this drug before. It seems that it is maybe used for induction of anesthesia and sometimes maintainence for some procedures. I wonder how fast it is eliminated from the system after surgery? Iso and Sevo start to be eliminated as soon as the gas is shut off. Because of the limited amount of info that I have read so far and since I have never heard of it, I might let them use it to induce but not to maintain. Ellie has been given Iso twice now and did fine. She was between 5 and 6 pounds.

Why do they use it?
Did they give a reason?

[Wogger]

The lady I spoke with just said in the tiny breeds they prefer the Telazol because it is tolerated better and that she would have oxygen by mask, but not anesthesia. I'll call again and double check that I understood everything correctly.

Anyone else have any experience with Telazol?

Thanks for the feedback!

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I have never heard of this drug before. It seems that it is maybe used for induction of anesthesia and sometimes maintainence for some procedures. I wonder how fast it is eliminated from the system after surgery? Iso and Sevo start to be eliminated as soon as the gas is shut off. Because of the limited amount of info that I have read so far and since I have never heard of it, I might let them use it to induce but not to maintain. Ellie has been given Iso twice now and did fine. She was between 5 and 6 pounds.

Why do they use it?
Did they give a reason?

[BLowry]

I have heard of Iso but not the other one you mentioned. I have recently changed vets and she is using sevoflorine. It is used on geriactric patients and is a much gentler anethesia. They wake up pretty fast after surgery and not as groggy...this is what I am told. I haven't had the girls spayed yet...It's also a little more costly but, for safety sakes...I don't care.

[Wogger]

Oh yeah, can she get her rabies vaccine at this visit or would it better to do it at another time?

Thanks for the feedback on the anesth. I will talk to them again and if need be, I will look elsewhere. Money is not really a big factor, her safety comes first!

[kalina82]

i don't like the idea of them just using telazol and no gas anesthesia. And they're just going to use a mask? not good for an abdominal surgery. All dogs should be intubated for any type of invasive surgery. If something happens like the dog stops breathing then they really can't do too much about it. if the dog is intubated then they can breath for it and get oxygen and iso/sevo into their system to keep them under.

i would not have surgery done at this vet. its not safe at all.

rabies can be given the same day as surgery. i had morgan's done this way.

[Yorkieluv]

I agree with kalina82...Gas anesthetics should be used on small dogs, not injectables...Otherwise it's too dangerous. Iso and Sevo are the two anesthetics of choice...

[Wogger]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I will call the vet back tomorrow and make sure that I understood correctly and if they don't do the Iso., I will look elsewhere.

Choosing a vet is so hard. I finally found one I love for our horses, but she only treats equines these days.

Thanks again. I'll post what I learn and decide. YT is the best!!!

[Ellie May]

I agree with Kalina82 on the anesthesia.

I would not give rabies the same day because the body is already going through enough with surgery. The vaccine requires an immune response and I wouldn't be comfortable putting Ellie through that all in one day. I know it is common procedure but lots of things are common that I wouldn't do...

I always prefer gas anesthesia but most vets still use injectables to induce. It is very hard to get around this with some vets.

I still don't understand why they would do the entire spay with this drug and as Kalina said, they need to be tubed. It is much safer.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I agree with Kalina82 on the anesthesia.

I would not give rabies the same day because the body is already going through enough with surgery. The vaccine requires an immune response and I wouldn't be comfortable putting Ellie through that all in one day. I know it is common procedure but lots of things are common that I wouldn't do...

I always prefer gas anesthesia but most vets still use injectables to induce. It is very hard to get around this with some vets.

I still don't understand why they would do the entire spay with this drug and as Kalina said, they need to be tubed. It is much safer.

its not as safe to just gas down a patient with a mask then intubate them. a lot of times the gas really upsets them because it smells funny. We don't want this. Its much easier for then to slowly relax and get sleepy, and this is done with a pre-med of sedatives. Pre-meds are normally given, and these are usually different depending on the hospital. Then 15-20 minutes later when the dog is more relaxed and sleepy, it is induced. All the places i've worked at have used propofol. It is the safest drug to use for this and only really lasts long enough to get the intubation done. once the tracheal tube is in place the patient is hooked up to gas anesthesia (i've only worked with Iso and Sevo). This is the safest way from my experiences.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by kalina82

its not as safe to just gas down a patient with a mask then intubate them. a lot of times the gas really upsets them because it smells funny. We don't want this. Its much easier for then to slowly relax and get sleepy, and this is done with a pre-med of sedatives. Pre-meds are normally given, and these are usually different depending on the hospital. Then 15-20 minutes later when the dog is more relaxed and sleepy, it is induced. All the places i've worked at have used propofol. It is the safest drug to use for this and only really lasts long enough to get the intubation done. once the tracheal tube is in place the patient is hooked up to gas anesthesia (i've only worked with Iso and Sevo). This is the safest way from my experiences.

I agree.
So many people want their dogs masked down which may not be the safest route. In Ellie's situation, she was masked down for her spay. It was done for the safety of her liver. But she was masked only long enough to be tubed, then she was tubed and the surgery was done. If the vet didn't do this her second choice was inducing with propofol.

[Wogger]

I called a vet clinic right near my house that I was hesitant to use because it is a brand new facility in a high dollar area and figured the prices would be too high, but they weren't at all and they use Iso... for the anesthesia and it happens to be Spay Month so we will get 20% off the regular price of $75.00 (it will be a bit more because she also has a tiny umbilical hernia that will be repaired at the same time). She goes in next Tuesday. I'm nervous, but feel better about it.

They also said she would not likely need an e-collar because they do sub-Q sutures. Anyone with experience in this area?

Thanks again for all the feedback. I'll let you all know how it goes.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wogger

I called a vet clinic right near my house that I was hesitant to use because it is a brand new facility in a high dollar area and figured the prices would be too high, but they weren't at all and they use Iso... for the anesthesia and it happens to be Spay Month so we will get 20% off the regular price of $75.00 (it will be a bit more because she also has a tiny umbilical hernia that will be repaired at the same time). She goes in next Tuesday. I'm nervous, but feel better about it.

They also said she would not likely need an e-collar because they do sub-Q sutures. Anyone with experience in this area?

Thanks again for all the feedback. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Are they doing bloodwork?

[Wogger]

Yes, they'll do bloodwork. It'll be extra (I forgot to ask how much), but I'll do it regardless. Just out of curiosity, how much does it usually cost?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wogger

Yes, they'll do bloodwork. It'll be extra (I forgot to ask how much), but I'll do it regardless. Just out of curiosity, how much does it usually cost?

$100 for us but we go to a pricey vet and the blood panel with CBC is done, I believe.

I also would want the surgery to be done on a heated surface and an IV in her at all times during surgery.

About the e-collar, I really don't know but if she was licking at her incision even with external sutures, I would let her. Maybe if she starts bothering the incision you could use a baby onesie?