Potential Complications of Anesthesia

Anesthesia is a vital part of your pet’s care, but it also comes with risks including blindness, deafness, brain damage, aspiration pneumonia and other potential problems (i.e. organ damage and death). Underlying conditions (kidney/liver disease, intestinal blockage, liver disease, trauma and internal bleeding, etc.) can increase the risks, but we closely monitor blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate and intervene when necessary to try to prevent any complications.

The following are rare potential complications that can arise with spaying our dog or cat.

Bleeding resulting in Scrotal bruising/Scrotal hematoma

Although we check for bleeding in surgery multiple times, a ligature can slip or a small vessel can start bleeding again when your pet’s blood pressure increases after surgery. This can result in bruising around the incision/scrotum or a blood clot in the scrotum (hematoma). Bleeding during the neutering procedure is more common in larger and/or older dogs.

Incisional Infection/Dehiscence

An incision is made through the skin and fat layers underneath to remove the testicles. This incision is closed with internal sutures (+/- external sutures). Excessive activity or licking at the incision can cause the incision to become infected and affect the integrity of the sutures resulting in opening of the incision. An additional surgery may be necessary to correct an infected incision or dehiscence.

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Neutering of large breed dogs in particular at a young age causes delayed closure of the physis or growth plates resulting in longer bones and steeper angles within the joints; consequently, a higher number of cranial cruciate ligament ruptures are seen.

Eunuchoid syndrome (Decreased male characteristics)

Eunuchoid syndrome is having the characteristics of a castrated male where the secondary sex characteristics do not develop. This occurs when male animals are neutered at a younger age. These vary with breed but example include large head and body size, and decreased penile development.

If your pet requires hospitalization overnight:

Overnight Stay. Although there is not a doctor present from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., there are trained staff to treat and monitor your pet overnight onsite. If any drastic changes occur, the emergency doctor will be called to discuss treatment and possibly return to the hospital.

Overnight communication. Our phones are turned off from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning, Mon thru Friday and 4pm to 8am Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. No news is good news overnight. If here is an emergency that involves your pet, you will be called by the technician or the doctor depending on the circumstance. You will be provided with an update the following morning after the morning doctor examines your pet (usually between 8 and 10 a.m.).

Intravenous Fluids. Usually your pet is placed on IV fluids when in the hospital to treat dehydration or to provide a way to medicate your pet. In rare occurrences, too much fluid can be administered that can build up in the lungs causing difficulty breathing, but they are monitored closely to prevent complications caused by excess fluids.

I, the undersigned owner or agent of the owner of the pet identified above, certify that I am eighteen years of age or over and authorize the veterinarian(s) at this practice to perform the above procedure(s). I understand that I am encouraged to discuss any concerns I have about those risks with the attending veterinarian before the procedure(s) is/are initiated. My signature on this form indicates that any questions I have regarding the following issues have been answered to my satisfaction:

• The reasonable medical treatment options for my pet.

• Sufficient details of the procedures to understand what will be performed.

• How fully my pet will recover and how long it will take.

• The most common and serious complications.

• The length and type of the follow-up care and home restraint required.

• The estimate of the fees for all services.

While I accept that all procedures will be performed to the best of the abilities of the staff at this hospital, I understand that veterinary medicine is not an exact science and that no guarantee or warranty has been made regarding the results that may be achieved. I also understand that my pet’s medical condition may change for better or worse and the attending veterinarian(s) may add or change treatments to fit the needs of my pet’s care as long as it falls within the guidelines of the estimate that was provided to me.

I assume financial responsibility for the services rendered and provide payment via cash, credit card (not American Express), or check at the time my pet is discharged from the hospital. Should unexpected lifesaving emergency care be required I elect one of the following: