Anaesthetic For Whippets

[mantamuffin]

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Okay I realise neutering is a contraversial subject here but I am only asking for a general overview in anaesthetic used on whippets. My boy is due to be neutered but my vets doesn't see the need for any special anaesthetic, saying they have never lost a health dog and no his low body fat will not make a difference. Now I don't go to Mcvets and have always been VERY happy with their advice and service and medical support but is this right? Or should I go to someone whom will use a special one . He is 7kg and no fat on him - on another note she actually wasn't keen on it but we are under an adoption contract to perform it and also lower his theif risk.

Thank you

 

[Claire]

HI

From the Little I Know, A general Anaestetic Is dispersed though the fat of a dog. As they have little - no fat to get the Anaestetic out of their system, most vets would use something like Rapinovet Or Propaflow & Gas as a GA for Whippets & greyhounds rather than Thiopental sodium Etc.

 

[Cerito]

My vet has several rants, and one is "a vet who doesn't use rapinovet or similar on a greyhound is negligent". I would think the same applies to whippets.

I would speak to another vet. There is a vet ILKC on here. I'm sure if she looks in she will let us know.

Cerito

 

[ILoveKettleChips]

Yes, in a word, the anaesthetic of choice for sighthounds is propofol (Rapinovet), largely because it is ultra-short acting and therefore gives them less of a 'hangover' (not because it's any safer than thio). Gas maintenance of choice would be isoflurane (Isoflo).

BUT (and this is a big big but) asking a vet who is not familiar with these drugs to start using them on your dog is essentially asking them to use your dog as a guinea-pig. Anaesthesia is an inexact science in the sense that drugs are given to effect and not according to specific doses. If the vet has been using thio and halothane for a million years then how will they know if your dog is reacting abnormally if they're using unfamiliar drugs?

We mustn't forget that these anaesthetics were used regularly until the quite recent introduction of propofol. Yes, if I had the choice I'd choose propofol, but then I use it every day and am happy that I know when things are going right or wrong. The vet schools still use thio regularly (not necessarily on sighthound patients), which I believe shows that it's wrong of us to consider propofol to be the 'safe' drug. No anaesthetic is 100% safe.

I guess the main thing is to talk again to your vet - bearing in mind that asking them to use an unfamiliar drug on your dog may not be in anyone's best interests, and then consider on that basis what is more important to you - who performs the op or what drugs are used, because it may come down to that choice.

Hope this helps )

 

[mantamuffin]

Yes, in a word, the anaesthetic of choice for sighthounds is propofol (Rapinovet), largely because it is ultra-short acting and therefore gives them less of a 'hangover' (not because it's any safer than thio).  Gas maintenance of choice would be isoflurane (Isoflo).
BUT (and this is a big big but) asking a vet who is not familiar with these drugs to start using them on your dog is essentially asking them to use your dog as a guinea-pig.  Anaesthesia is an inexact science in the sense that drugs are given to effect and not according to specific doses.  If the vet has been using thio and halothane for a million years then how will they know if your dog is reacting abnormally if they're using unfamiliar drugs?

We mustn't forget that these anaesthetics were used regularly until the quite recent introduction of propofol.  Yes, if I had the choice I'd choose propofol, but then I use it every day and am happy that I know when things are going right or wrong.  The vet schools still use thio regularly (not necessarily on sighthound patients), which I believe shows that it's wrong of us to consider propofol to be the 'safe' drug.  No anaesthetic is 100% safe.

I guess the main thing is to talk again to your vet - bearing in mind that asking them to use an unfamiliar drug on your dog may not be in anyone's best interests, and then consider on that basis what is more important to you - who performs the op or what drugs are used, because it may come down to that choice.

Hope this helps  )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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it does thank you, I would be happier using a vet whom is more familiar with sighthounds in general so will do some asking around. I mean he has no history with my (current) vet anyway only as check over when we adopted him as he had parvo at 6weeks. His heart is good though (according to 2 vets)

It's a worry full stop - I faced serious surgery last yr and know only yoo well the risks of any GA

 

[Juley]

I must admit that when we moved my first question was, are you familiar with sighthounds. My old vet was as several of us in the area had Whippets. The new one told me all about the Rapinovet so I was very happy to use them. I'd ask around.