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ANESTHETIC REACTIONS There may come a time that your Havanese will require surgery and/or need to be anesthetised for spaying/neutering, dental work, C-section, injury etc. While anesthetics are better and safer than they used to be, there is always some associated risk. Other than potential allergies and sensitivities, heart rate may slow, irregularities develop, blood pressure drop and body functions collapse. For the most part, anesthetics are processed and eliminated through the liver and kidneys. The greatest danger lies in improper metabolic processing for assorted reasons. Physical problems with the organs that metabolize these drugs, including deterioration from aging, can contribute to complications. Your vet can do a preliminary blood panel to detect potential problems. Advise your Vet if your Havanese has a heart murmur, respiratory problem or any other chronic condition. These are not necessarily problems during anesthesia, but are important information for your Vet to have to make informed decisions if any problems arise. Some breeds in particular, including Bichons and Havanese, may have a heightened sensitivity to certain anesthetics and require reduced levels to achieve the same effect. Methoxyflurane is an older anesthetic which is rarely but occasionally used (because of low cost); however is not nearly as safe as newer anesthetics. Halothane is a commonly used general anesthetic. One drawback is that it may take an hour for complete wakeup and there may be residual sedative effects for an additional 12+ hours. In anesthetic-sensitive Havanese, this may increase risks. Isoflurane, though more expensive, is considered safer, and is not metabolized in the same way as halothane or methoxyflurane. Wakeup is almost immediate once the medication is discontinued. Isoflurane is an often used choice for Havanese. In the future there may be even safer alternatives than there are today. Discuss any concerns with your Vet so they can make the best choice for you and your dog. Along with general anesthesia, some Vets use a pre- anesthetic sedative. Some Havanese may be hypersensitive to a relaxant or tranquilizer called Acepromazine or "Ace". The dose prescribed is determined by weight. For sensitive Havanese, this calculated amount may be double of what they actually require. The vet needs to know to reduce the amount for potentially sensitive Havanese or to avoid it altogether. Some Vets are willing to skip the pre-anesthetic and just mask down a toy dog so that there are less chemicals to metabolize and thus minimize risks. The ACE/Halothane combination appears to carry risks for some Havanese and it may be best to avoid ACE altogether as it seems to be the one that has provoked the most reactions. There have also been some reported reactions to the combination of Isofluorane and Propofol. Combinations of sedatives/tranquilizers/anesthetics seem to cause more reactions rather than single agents but there is potential for reaction with any agent used. When anesthetic reactions occur, sadly some dogs die, others are revived to normalcy or some may have ongoing handicaps. Knowing about potential anesthetic sensitivities in our breed can help a great deal to avert tragedies. It may be a wise precaution to run pre-surgical blood panels on any Havanese, even young and apparently healthy ones to minimize risks from "hidden" problems. Keep a complete medical history of your dog and take a copy of it with you when you discuss any surgical procedures with your Vet. |
