Anesthesia and Older Pets

As pet owners ourselves, we very much understand it can feel uncomfortable having your furry loved ones undergo any procedure that involves anesthesia, especially as they get older.

Many pet parents, especially those with an older cat or dog, can get anxious when the topic of anesthesia comes up in caring for their special friend. Believing their pet is simply “too old for anesthesia” is actually a very common misconception among not only pet parents, but also many veterinarians. Let’s consider the facts with regard to age and anesthesia risks. Age is not a disease and does not directly reflect health status. We all know of healthy older people (or pets) and young people with poor health. 

As pets become older the likelihood of systemic illness increases, and it is for this reason dogs and cats past a certain age are approached more cautiously for anesthesia. This is also why additional testing is often ordered prior to scheduling any procedure requiring anesthesia. These tests usually include a complete blood panel, urinalysis, chest x-rays, and a BNP test which checks for some types of heart disease.

By following the most current anesthesia standards and advanced safety protocols, our experienced team safely anesthetizes senior and geriatric pets as well as those with significant systemic disease. Learn about the steps we take to provide the safest anesthesia possible below:

anesthesia and older pets | Animal Dental Center

Safe Anesthesia Protocols for Senior Pets at Animal Dental Center include:

Thinking about Anesthesia Free Pet Dentistry?

Call (410) 828-1001 to make an appointment at any of our locations or click below to contact us.

Our doctors are Board Certified Veterinary Dentists™

The board-certified veterinary dentists at Animal Dental Center have the extensive knowledge, expertise, and specialized equipment to determine the extent and severity of your pet’s oral disease and to provide appropriate treatment. You will have peace of mind knowing your pet is receiving a professional dental cleaning, diagnosis through radiographs and treatment of periodontal disease and other oral pathology. This treatment, usually combined with at-home daily oral homecare will also help to prevent future oral disease.
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