829. The chattering chihuahua

Jan 20, 2012 Friday

The young couple came with the Chihuahua as scheduled. Death on the operating table is the main concern with the fair lady. Vet 1 had insisted that they sign the anaesthetic consent form hihglighting the risk of death in an old dog undergoing dental work. "This is the common practice," I explained. "Even the human hospitals will ask you to sign the form if you go for anaesthesia and surgery."

I had seen the couple on last Sunday and had advised antibiotics for the next few days and getting the dental work done on Friday. I told Dr Vanessa I would be handling the case myself as there was great worries for the fair lady. Sunday will be Chinese New Year's Eve. So the dog was done today. Blood test taken revealed nothing abnormal

Chihuahua, Male, 8 years, Severe stage 4 periodontal disease.

Isoflurane + oxygen anaesthesia only.
Proper sized endotracheal tube which was 6.5
Only 3 teeth left. Around 16 extracted.

The dog coughed when the owners came to pick up 2 hours later.
"It is caused by throat irritation of the endotracheal tube," I explained. "I inserted the tube into the windpipe to give the anaesthetic gas. I will give an injection."

It was one of those satisfying moments to see the young lady smile and freed of worries since her Chihuahua had not died on the op table and was as alert as if he had not been under anaesthesia. Isoflurane anaesthesia effect disappears within 5 minutes and that is why this dog was as alert as normal.

However, it takes a longer time to anesthesize the dog and there is a certain technique which I taught my assistant Min so as not to injure the dog when he is struggling before being asleep. If a sedation injection is given first, there is virtually no struggling. As I had promised the owner that I will use gas only, I kept my word.