Anesthesia protocol for surgery in pug breed

Sorry for the new topic, folks. I meant to reply to Stitch Chan's thread re whether or not to neuter, but I clicked New Topic instead and it won't let me copy and past for some reason. Don't want to re-type everything, so here it is:

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This is a very pro spay and neutering place for all the reasons stated above.

Here are some good guidelines for how to handle anesthesia with a pug -- very good questions to ask your vet and my vet has always appreciated having an intelligent discussion about his surgical procedures.

1. Pre-op bloodwork. All vets should require pre-op bloodwork either morning of the surgery or shortly before surgery. With my vet, his pre-op blood work is good for 30 days but he also always tests kidney function morning of.

2. Preferred anesthesia should be sevoflourane or isoflourane

3. Preferred induction should be with valium or ketamine.

4. Vet should utilize a pulse oximeter and continuous ECG with constant monitoring.

If your vet understands and follows these procedures, then you should be in generally good hands with respect to anesthesia protocol (which is where you face the most increased surgical risk with the pug breed). The actual surgery isn't any more risky for pugs than for any other breed.

The above list is something that was put forth by one of the members of our board years ago. She is an M.D.

Good luck! You will be doing the right thing by your pug in the long run.

Here is another excellent protocol from Frenchie experts. They have a harder time of it than pugs:




Requirement:


No food for 12 hours before surgery. This is
crucial. If the dog eats the morning of
surgery, cancel the surgery for that day. Vomiting and aspiration can have
devastating effects in a Frenchie.

Recommendations:


1)
Do a full blood chemistry work-up
and complete blood count before anesthesia.


2)
For older dogs (over 8 years of
age), provide intravenous fluid therapy before, during, and after surgery.
Ideally, all dogs will be administered IV fluids during surgery.


3)
Chest x-rays prior to surgery if the
dog has had chronic breathing problems.


Optimum


Use propofol induction anesthesia,
intubate (place a breathing tube in the trachea) and maintain on gas anesthesia
(isoflurane or sevoflurane).


Satisfactory Options


Ketamine
combined with diazepam (Valium)


Butorphanol (mild sedative for short
procedures such as an x-ray) This is also called Torbugesic or Torbutrol


Dexdomitor (reversible
anesthesia/sedative)


Use with Caution

Thiopental


Telazol


Do Not Give Frenchies


Acepromazine
(sedative)


Pentobarbital
(injectable anesthesia)


Xylazine
(sedative)


Halothane
(gas anesthesia)


Anesthetic
Extras


(These would be in addition to the optimum
anesthetic protocol listed above and are recommended for longer procedures)


IV catheter and fluids


Famotidine (Pepcid) or ranitidine
(Zantac) injection (helps cut down on nausea and post-op vomiting, decreases risk of
aspiration)


Dexamethasone can reduce post-op
swelling and make recovery faster in cases where the dog's throat is irritated
from the ET tube, when the dog's palate is very long, or following palate
surgery. A single injection can be given
in these cases.


Intubation vs. Masking/Coning Down



EVERY
brachycephalic dog that goes under anesthesia should have an endotracheal tube
(ET) placed in his or her trachea. Always! The airway must
be protected at all times. The endotracheal tube should be left in until
the dog is awake. Use intravenous propofol (or one of the other
satisfactory drugs listed above) to induce anesthesia (which puts them under)
and allows sufficient time to place the ET tube. From then on, anesthesia is maintained with
sevoflurane or isoflurane.


Brachycephalic
breeds, such as Frenchie, should never be masked down with anesthesia. Masking down is when a mask is placed on an
awake or mildly sedated dog’s muzzle. The mask is held in place by restraining
the dog. The inhalant, which has a bad smell, is given at high levels. As the
dog breaths more and more, he/she gets sleepy.
The problem with masking down Frenchies is that they can become very
anxious, fight the mask and not breath well. Most Frenchies have problems
breathing in the first place, this just makes it worse, which results in lower
oxygen levels. Ideally, injectable sedatives are used and an endotracheal tube
placed which is then attached to an anesthetic machine. This gives them the
optimum oxygen supply.



Rev
3/11