Anesthesia and Your Diabetic Dog
Today we talk about the “dreaded” dental and anesthesia question. Typically, our pups won’t need anesthesia, but there are those occasions like a dental cleaning, where it needs to happen. In our group ( Canine Diabetes Support and Information) we see this question asked several times a month. “My dog needs to have a dental, what do I do? I was not a fan of my boys going under anesthesia any time, but once Max was diabetic, it really made me nervous. As it turned out, it wasn’t a big deal for him, but it was for me.
First let’s acknowledge that oral hygiene for your Diabetic pup is a big deal since any infection or bacteria can wreak havoc with your BG (Blood Glucose) numbers. So staying on top of dental cleanings and teeth brushing is essential. If you look back at the post where we covered oral hygiene titled Will an Infection Affect My Diabetic Dog Part 1, we talked about products to help keep your pup’s teeth in good shape. If you haven’t had a dental done in a while, it’s worth having your vet take a look inside your pup’s mouth to see if a dental is in order.
When you schedule your pup for any procedure that will require anesthesia, you will need to constantly remind the staff that your pup is Diabetic. Even then, you will get the same spiel that everyone gets, “no food or water after midnight”. Well, that works for most dogs, but our dogs are Diabetic so the normal protocols need to be changed a bit. First of all, we never, ever withhold water from a Diabetic Dog. Not ever… water passes through the stomach very quickly so should not pose a problem even if your pup has a drink right before you leave the house. Chances are good that there will be some prep before the procedure and the water will be long gone even before you get to the vet’s office.
Because our pup’s need food to get a full dose of insulin, depending on where your pup is on the schedule will dictate if you feed nothing, half a meal or a full meal the day of the procedure. I know that it is easiest for the vet to just say no food or water 12 hours before, but a little extra thought needs to go into your dog’s case.
If your pup is first on the schedule, then likely no food and ¼ dose of insulin is appropriate. If your pup isn’t scheduled until late morning, then perhaps half of meal and ½ dose of insulin is what you will be advised to do. If your pup isn’t scheduled until later in the day, they may have you feed a full meal and a full dose. I would suggest that when you make your appointment for the dental procedure that you request being the first on the schedule. That way you stand a better chance of your pup not still being “hung over” from the anesthesia when it is dinner time.
When my boys went for a dental, I always took their midday snack with them which was chicken breast cubes and some pureed green bean baby food or a bit of organic fat free plain yogurt. I also took my meter (so that they could use mine and not charge me $30.00 for each reading that they did) and some fat free Fig Newtons in the event that Max dropped too low after the surgery. I also took some water from home (my boys drank filtered water and I was taking no chances with tummy upset from different, unfiltered water). I know, I know, over the top, but these boys were my children and that’s just how it was. I wasn’t willing to set myself up for any more challenges than I needed after bringing them home.
When I dropped them off, I asked to speak to the tech that was going to be doing Max’s aftercare. We would go in an exam room and I would hand her my notes and quickly go over them. The biggest one for me was that I didn’t want Max’s BG (Blood Glucose) going any lower than 120. If it did, I asked that she would please give him half of a Fat Free Fig Newton that was in his bag. I’m sure that she was rolling her eyes inside, but to her credit, she didn’t roll them at me… LOL. As it turned out, I called a few hours after Max’s procedure and asked to speak with the vet tech that was assigned to him. I asked what his BG (Blood Glucose) was and she confessed that it had been a really busy day and hadn’t checked him in the last few hours. I told her that I would hold while she checked. She came back on the phone and told me that he was at 110 and that she had given him half a Fig Newton and would check him again in an hour or so. I was thankful that we had gone over this that morning so that we were on the same page. I wasn’t embarrassed about being my dog’s advocate, he didn’t have a human voice but I do, so using it for him was just fine with me. I know that I don’t have DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) after my name, but I knew my dogs better than anyone and I was paying very well for those dentals and I wanted my boys treated right.
A footnote here: Once your pup has the dental procedure done, please be diligent with testing as in many cases, BG (Blood Glucose) numbers often come down and a decrease in insulin dose may be needed.
As we talked about in the post about your relationship with your vet, it was important for me to know that we were a team and that we were both very clear on what was going to happen that day. I upheld my part of the bargain (the boys were there on time with everything that they might need), and oh, I paid the bill before we left so I did my part, now all they had to do was theirs.
Please, please, please, don’t hold your tongue on important matters when it comes to your pups. There is always a tactful way to get your point across… always. And if it comes to it, a not so tactful way also if need be.
When you are scheduling ANYTHING at your vet’s office, always, always, always remind them that your pup is diabetic and that the “usual” rules don’t necessarily apply. Talk to whoever you need to so that you’re comfortable about whatever is being done. I also always asked when it would be good for me to call. I didn’t want to be a pest, but I also didn’t want to be uninformed. I wanted to respect their time and be sure that they knew that I wanted to call and I was giving them the opportunity to tell me when would be best to do so. This is YOUR baby, you have a right to know what is going to happen and be a part of the decision making process… Always!
In summary, if your pup has to have anesthesia:
When scheduling, ask to be first on the schedule.
Remind them that your pup is Diabetic and this is likely different than a non-Diabetic protocol.
Take everything that your pup will need during the day while they are at the clinic including your meter, (it will save you some money) a pure protein snack like chicken breast that can be given if your pup didn’t eat breakfast.
Speak with the tech that will be doing aftercare when you drop your pup off that morning and make sure that you are clear about your expectations.
Ask when it is appropriate to call and check on your pup.
Once you have covered every base that you can and know that you and your vet’s team are on the same page, go to Starbucks and have a fancy coffee drink because you have done all that you can do!
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Until next time…