Sedation

When is sedation necessary for a dog?

Sedation is necessary if a procedure is too painful, too lengthy for the dog, or can only be carried out with absolute immobilisation.

X-rays of the hip require remaining in an exact position for minutes on end. With biopsies on the ear or deep wound cleaning, freedom of movement poses a risk to both the dog and the handler. Dogs with a phobia of vets may react so strongly even during blood draws that safe treatment without sedation is not possible.

Sedation and general anaesthesia

The depth of sedation depends on the type and duration of the procedure and ranges from mild calming to deep sleep.

General anaesthesia is not sedation, but complete unconsciousness. It is used for operations.

Which sedatives are given to dogs?

The choice of medication depends on the dog’s health status and the planned procedure.

Acepromazine is a sedative mentioned in the guideline as part of premedication.

Dexmedetomidine has a calming effect and also relieves pain.

Propofol is administered intravenously; the vet determines the dose according to guidelines and findings.

Combinations of different active ingredients enable lower individual doses with the same effect.

How do you prepare a dog for sedation?

The AAHA guideline 2020 recommends that healthy adult dogs have their food removed 4 to 6 hours before the procedure and that water remains freely available. The recommended fasting period has been deliberately shortened because shorter fasting is associated with less reflux of stomach acid, among other things. For dogs with known or impending reflux, this means 6 to 12 hours without food and water; for puppies under eight weeks or under 2 kilograms, a maximum of 1 to 2 hours without food. The treating practice always provides the exact instructions.

The vet examines the heart and lungs beforehand, and often kidney values in older dogs. Brachycephalic breeds (Pug, Bulldog) receive a more intensive pre-examination, as their airways can become critical under sedation.

Medications such as ACE inhibitors or diuretics may need to be paused. The vet decides this individually.

What are the risks of sedation?

The risk of anaesthesia-related death has been estimated at 0.05 per cent in healthy dogs, which corresponds to one case in 1849 dogs.

Brachycephalic dogs and cats are more prone to obstruction of the upper airways, and brachycephalic breeds show a higher rate of airway-related anaesthesia complications than non-brachycephalic breeds.

Blood pressure can drop, especially in older or cardiac-compromised dogs. Modern practices continuously monitor pulse and oxygen saturation.

Reflux of stomach contents and regurgitation can cause oesophagitis and aspiration pneumonia. That is why the fasting period beforehand is necessary.

How does the recovery phase proceed?

The optimal recovery time is considered to be 10 to 30 minutes after the end of anaesthesia; how long it actually takes depends on the health status, the procedure, the duration and the body temperature. The dog is monitored until it is awake, normally tempered and standing safely on its legs.

From practice: In the first hours at home, the dog needs rest and supervision. Climbing stairs or jumping onto the sofa are taboo; balance is not yet fully restored.

Food is only given when the dog can stand safely again and is fully responsive. Feeding too early can trigger vomiting.

47 to 60 percent of all anaesthesia-related deaths in dogs and cats occur after the procedure, most within the first 3 hours. In case of weakness, vomiting or breathing problems after sedation, your dog should therefore return to the practice without waiting.