Anesthetic Detoxification

Many animals and people are affected by anesthetic, suffering from grogginess or finding it difficult to wake for several days after their operation. Some animals do not come out of the anesthetic and die during the operation. This is particularly if they are elderly, weak with disease, or (as has happened) are given too much anesthetic.

It is important to note that, in animals, the anesthetic used in operations is the same poison used to euthanize them. The only difference is that larger quantities are administered in the process of euthanasia. It is understandable then, that many pets have difficulty recovering.

Because anesthetic is actually a highly toxic substance for both humans and animals, it is strongly recommended that some sort detoxification occur following exposure to the chemical. Natural remedies are available for this purpose.

The body also suffers trauma during surgery which includes shock, bleeding, bruising and nerve damage. As well as detoxifying after surgery there are many natural remedies to assist the body to repair itself and to heal quickly.
Animals should not have to suffer in silence. Simply ask for a remedy suitable for the type of surgery they have undergone. Different remedies are recommended according to the surgery that has taken place, but the formulas can be used for all species, including humans.

It is also important to avoid surgery if possible and try alternative medicines, or if surgery is required, always insist that your pet has a drip of fluids before during and after the surgery, no matter how minor. This will help recovery and prevent ill affects of the toxins of the anesthetic.

Breed Sensitivities to General Anesthesia
Purebred dogs have been selectively bred to perform specific tasks such as retrieving or racing or have been bred to develop specific physical characteristics. Often, less desirable traits emerge as a result of selective breeding.

A common question posed to veterinarians is about the "sensitivity" of a particular breed of dog or cat to anesthetic drugs. This is a difficult question to answer, as there are few scientific studies that have evaluated the sensitivities of different breeds of animals to anesthetics. Many of the reported breed sensitivities are based on the clinical experience of veterinarians. Many giant breed dogs seem to require less of a pre-anesthetic sedative (a smaller dose per unit of body weight) than miniature or toy breeds. The reason for this apparent difference is unclear.
It has been documented that sight hound breeds of dogs are more sensitive to some of the ultra short-acting thiobarbiturate induction drugs. The administration of thiobarbiturates for induction of anesthesia in sight hound breeds has been associated with a slower recovery from anesthesia. The reason for this breed sensitivity is unclear at this time but may be related to a difference in liver metabolism of the drug and/or differences in body fat. When sight hound breeds are to be anesthetized, it has been recommended that non-thiobarbiturate induction drugs be used to prevent a prolonged recovery from anesthesia.

Within the same breed, individual animals respond to the same anesthetic in differing degrees. Vigilant monitoring of vital signs during general anesthesia will enable the veterinarian to recognize and respond to life-threatening changes in heart and lung function.   A patient who displays an abnormal response to any drug (anesthetic or not) should be monitored carefully if the situation dictates that the same drug be re-administered at a later date.

The Perfect Anesthetic Drug

The perfect anesthetic is a drug that produces no heart or lung depression, provides adequate analgesia, provides excellent muscle relaxation, is not metabolized by the patient, is not toxic, and is readily reversible. Although the general anesthetics in use in veterinary anesthesia today are great improvements compared to the anesthetics of yesteryear, they still fall far short of the perfect agent. Many pets are worse and struggle to get back to wellness after the anesthetic.

Probably, the most desirable general anesthetic for a young, healthy dog is the one your veterinarian is most familiar with.  There are a great many anesthetic drugs available to today's practicing veterinarian, however most practitioners use a few carefully chosen anesthetics with which they have the most experience and the most confidence. Your veterinarian's experience in the use of a certain anesthetic drug often will more than offset one or two undesirable properties of a general anesthetic agent.

Naturopathic support for your pet

Add 2 teaspoons of Vitamin c in daily meals for a week or more leading up to surgery to help pet recovery quicker from the toxicities of the anesthetic drug.  Alternatively, you could ask the vet to inject Vitamin c before surgery.  FLUIDS from the IV  started before, during and after surgery – this will help recovery as well. 

Older pets (over 9 yrs)  (or unwell) will most often need Sub Q fluids daily for one to two weeks (eg 80ml fod a cat) warm plain saline solution of fluids dribbled under the skin with a small needle.  To help flush toxins form kidneys.  Ask Vet to show you how to do this at home.  Or  contact hampl for fluids and instructions  

Homeopathic Treatment:

Prevent bleeding and bursing  - Arnica 1M given three times a day before and after surgery.

Vomiting or groogy after anesthetic. -  Phosphorus 200C a dose on body three times daily then stop when well.

Anti dote  the poision    Acetic Acid 200C to from over dosing of anesethetic.  Not waking up!  or  very groggy for days.  (usuall one dose is all that is needed)     Really ideal for the Vet to have in his surgery.

Heart remedy and lung congestion (pluerisy)    Digitalis 10M   once to three times daily for a few days or longer until well again.

Sore throat, swallowing alot, unable to eat with nausea,  (ie throat damage from incubation – tubing down the throat during surgery damages).   Belladonna 10M  one dose on body three to four times a day until over pain and swelling and able to eat and drink again.

Pain relief for general surgical pain - hampls Pain Eze drops and Injury Heal formula drops (prevents bleeding, bruising, nerve pain and muscle pain etc)


Day before - preparing your Pet for General Anesthesia

There are several steps that a pet owner may take to help your veterinarian plan for a successful general anesthesia and surgery.

1. Communicate concerns about your pet’s health to your veterinarian prior to scheduling surgery. Any signs of exercise intolerance, weight loss, a recent change in urination or defecation, and mental alertness are particularly informative and may require further diagnostic workup.

2. Appy homeopathic Arnica 1M  three times daily before, then several days after.
If having spine surgery, also add Hypericum 10M (nerve pain and repair)

3. Withhold all food from pets scheduled for elective surgery for at least 10 hours prior to arriving at your veterinarian's clinic. The presence of food in a pet's stomach will greatly increase the likelihood of aspiration of food into the lungs, should your pet vomit during induction of general anesthesia. Usually water is NOT with held but check with your veterinarian.

4. Balance your desire to keep your pet in show condition with the knowledge that the risk of infections increases greatly if the skin overlying the IV catheter site is not properly disinfected prior to IV catheter placement. Proper disinfect ion requires clipping of the fur overlying a suitable vein.

5. Follow your veterinarian's discharge instructions. If you have small children at home, be careful not to leave your dog alone with the small child even for just a few minutes. Remember, all animals recovering from all general anesthetics will need quite space that is cool and comfortable.  May take up to several days to recover.