Record pets.
Case of risk versus reward
THERE are so, so many things we take for granted. Walking, talking and breathing. Falling asleep and waking up.
But sometimes we worry. Especially if falling asleep and waking up is associated with general anaesthesia.
Many pet owners are understandably concerned about the risks posed to their animal by anaesthesia and it can be difficult for vets to accurately quantify them.
We know, for example, that in humans there will be about one death for every 100,000 anaesthetics. Sounds pretty good. Unless you are the one, of course.
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, mortality in pets is unquestionably higher.
The Confidential Enquiry into Small Animal Fatalities, carried out in 2008, showed deaths from anaesthesia and July 14 ■ Fife Kennel Association’s Open Show in Unit 3, Thistle Industrial Estate, Cowdenbeath, at 10am. ■ Annandale Canine Society’s Open Show in Raydale Park, Gretna, at 9am. BY NEIL McINTOSH sedation in dogs was one in 601. This rose to one in 419 in cats and one in 72 in rabbits.
I hope it will put your mind at rest a little that there have been great improvements in anaesthetics, sedatives and pre- and post-operative monitoring since then, so that I expect current figures will be much more favourable.
The sad fact is we can’t make anaesthesia for animals completely risk-free.
Hidden illness (especially in rabbits), gastro-oesophageal reflux, inadvertent pre-op feeding and emergency situations preventing anaesthetic planning all conspire against us.
But in considering the ■ Pennine & Scottish French Bulldog Association’s Open Show in Richard Greenhow Centre, Gretna, at 10.30am. July 27 ■ Scottish Bull Terrier Championship Show in Gretna. Secretary Mr D McDonagh, The Chesters, Warrenhill Road, Thankerton, Biggar ML12 6PF. risks, we must also think about the benefits.
I like to think that any proposed anaesthetic will either lengthen the life of the patient or improve its welfare. Or both. Anaesthetics allow procedures to be carried out that can be life-saving.
It seems like everything in life is a gamble and we must strive to reduce the odds.
I was once at a meeting when a specialist anaesthetist asked the 50 vets present if any had experienced an unexpected anaesthetic death in the previous year. Four people raised their hands.
When he inquired who had seen an unexpected road traffic collision death, we all put our hands up.
He nodded and said: “Remember, you can’t get run over while you are anaesthetised.”
He made a valid point. Tel 01899 309330. Entries close July 16/July 21 online. August 4 ■ Kirkcaldy & District Canine Club’s Open Show in Giffordtown. Secretary N Dobbin, 29 Rae Street, Cowdenbeath KY4 8JZ. Tel. 01383 791352. Entries close July 19.