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luvdogs_gw

obesity and anesthetic risk

luvdogs
12 years ago

New dog - small English bulldog.

50 pounds/should be 30 or 35 pounds.

Want to spay and have tail amputation done (minor surgeries). English bullies have some tail conditions that require amputation - i have to clean her daily and there is a risk of infection for her if not done well --- She will be healthier and happier when she has this done so it must be done at some time.

How risky is anesthetic risk for obese dogs? Should i wait until the end of the year when she's at a good weight.??

Comments (4)

  • luvdogs
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    she will go into heat at least once if i wait. I will be able to keep her safe though and would spay immediately if she somehow did get impregnated.

  • Meghane
    12 years ago

    Obesity, especially in an English Bulldog, definitely adds some risk to anesthesia. The extra fat compresses the chest which doesn't generally inflate very well under anesthesia anyway. Plus English Bulldogs in general have a cluster of respiratory problems that can cause issues especially after anesthesia. That said, any good vet knows the risks and can take easy steps to minimize the risks, assuming the vet has good monitoring for all procedures (pulseOx, EtCO2, RR, HR, temp, and great techs). I've definitely gotten many an English Bulldog through anesthesia procedures and I'd say 99% of them are fat. I don't think people know what they are supposed to look like. But paying attention to the patient at all times until the dog is completely awake definitely gets them through safely.

  • lzrddr
    12 years ago

    Not only are these obese dogs an anesthetic risk, they are a surgical challenge, and that is not necessarily the situation what you want to electively get your dog into. I have had larger obese breeds come in to be spayed (for example, 8 year old 150 lb morbidly obese rottweilers are among the worst) and insisted they either go home and lose 30-50 lbs first, or see a surgical specialist as these can be nightmares to do surgery on (even above and beyond the additional anesthetic risks). Doing surgery on these dogs gives one a good appreciation for the hell human surgeons have to go through all the time with all their severely obese patients (only they have a lot more help in surgery)!

  • luvdogs
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    thanks for the responses.

    Well, i went ahead and had her spayed at the full-service vet (usually i use those discount s/n clinics).

    She's fine now and they charged me an extra 25 dollars for the obesity. So i paid about 200 for a 47 pound dog.

    She will be losing the extra weight - i HATE fat animals! Such a waste of resources if nothing else. You have to be tough about it.