Risk of anaesthetic for older dog

[tagh]

My old dog is just over 16. He has a number of fatty ‘tumours’ over his body one of which is becoming a problem. What chances is he likely to have of surviving an anaesthetic at his age?

Grateful for any guidance, information and particularly experience of members, svp.

Thank you.

[Blaze]

I understand totally your question and your dilemma, tagh, because none of us want to let our friends go. We went through it twice last year and it's devastating, but it was the kindest thing we could do for them to ensure they did not suffer.

Our vet would not have recommended a GA for a dog that age because the dog would be unlikely to survive the anaesthetic. That said, if you and your vet are prepared to take the risk and your dog didn't survive, at least he would go peacefully. But you wouldn't be allowed to be with him in the operating theatre - that would be far too traumatic for you and for the vet should your dog not make it.

16 is a fantastic age for a dog particularly if he's been fit and healthy in old age. Now you have to ask yourself whether prolonging his life will bring quality with it or whether you are desperately putting off the hardest of decisions.
I really do feel for you

[Lori]

Blaze said it so well. Our vet would have said the same.

It is a terribly difficult decision. I waited far too long to end our Collie's pain.

Whatever decision you make, I will be thinking of you.

[MAD87]

It's always difficult, but 16 is 112 in human terms, so he's had a good long life. I wouldn't hesitate to help him over the rainbow bridge - you're going to have to do it one day soon.
The oldest dog I had was 17 when I had her put down, but I got a bollocking from a locum vet for waiting so long.

[Loup-garou]

Tagh - forgive this long preamble.

Our oldest dog is 14 for sure. We rescued him and were told he was 12 -15 months but there were no papers or any way of knowing for sure. I thought his teeth said that he was older. On getting him home I took him to a vet friend of mine to check him over, he said the dog was at least 3+ then and called a succession of nurses in to give their view on his age and they agreed.

So, saga over - I have a dog who is 16 at least and he developed a mouth/eating problem late last year which required a GA to allow an operation on him. To boot, he had had 4 fits of an epileptic type a few months earlier caused by poor kidney performance - he was put on medication for his kidneys and the fits stopped but we need to watch him closely and have Crisax ready just in case.

Consequently, we were concerned about him having a GA and discussed it fully with the vet who said his heart was strong and he should be fine with the procedure. The alternative would have been a wasting dog so he had the GA and was fine with it and even came home at close of play that day. He takes two one hour walks every day with the other 4 dogs, sleeps a lot between them and eats like a horse.

Good luck with your dilemma - given you have the dog's best interests at heart and know him better than anyone, you will reach the right decision.

[L Austin France]

Our rescue dog Bob was 10 according the SPA when we adopted him but our vet thought more like 12-13.
He was very ill not long after we adopted him & tests showed he had a tumour alongside his liver. Two days in the vet's care saw him back home with us with a warning from the vet that he didn't think Bob would last the week out. Two years later & on a strict medical regime he's still with us.
He has his good & bad days when we take him to the vets to get him checked.
He's got arthritis in his hips which occasionally flares up & results in him not eating.
We always knew that adopting an older dog would mean that his time with us would be short but boy is he having a good last few years.
The vet has said that any anaesthetic for whatever reason would be a last resort for a dog who could be 15 so we abide by his recommendation &just take every day as it comes.

[Liz]

Hugs from here, these decisions are not easy to make.
Try to assess a day, a week for your dog - are they comfy or on pain? In pain for how long?
We can be kind to our four pawed friends, in the same circumstances our human friends suffer.
When our last oldie left us, she made it clear she had had enough.

[Loup-garou]

We seemed to move very quickly from can an old dog survive an anesthetic to when should you put a dog to sleep?

The only valid answer to the OP is that nobody knows it it too specific and individual linked - only the vet can really give a trustable answer.

[tagh]

Well, thank you everyone for your input and thoughts.
The dog is not in pain but the growing fat lumps may well cause him discomfort sooner rather than later though at the moment I think it is rather an inconvenience. The biggest is about the size of a grapefruit under one of his front legs, gradually pushing the leg joint out. And there are several others.
He already has leaky heart valves but the pills he takes sorted that very quickly. Otherwise, his legs give way occasionally leaving him looking helpless and surprised. And he is pretty blind and selectively deaf.
But he runs round the garden, moans or barks at me to get in or out of the house or to be fed and barks at heaven knows what in the garden.
Thus far I lean strongly towards keeping him as he is though if he was in pain I would change my mind.
Thank you again.

[Polly]

Enjoy making memories with him for his remaining time with you, Tagh.