Pre-Dental Procedures

[bvroman]

Just curious - What instructions does your vet give you for the NIGHT & MORNING before a dental procedure is done?

We have had conflicting info from various vets - each seem to have a preferred method.

 

The latest is: No food after 8PM, water is okay. (Some vets have said the more water the better prior to the procedure...)

 

What is the procedure you have followed for your grey?

 

Thanks!

[KF_in_Georgia]

For anesthesia (as on a dental): No food or water after midnight (and then we drop off the dog by 8am).

 

For blood draws for lab work: No food after midnight, but all the water they want.

 

I always schedule first-thing-in-the-morning blood draws to go with first-thing-in-the-morning urine samples.

 

ETA: Differing instructions from vets might depend on whether they need to pull blood for pre-surgical lab work as well as time-of-day for the surgery. If they won't get to the dentals until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, they may have different rules than for the early-morning patients. (My vet does tricky stuff early, routine stuff late.)

Edited June 18, 2016 by KF_in_Georgia

[RaineysMom]

we just had our first so no real experience, but no food 12 hours or less before drop off (which was 8am) but water was ok. As per others, our vet does more tricky stuff early and "routine" later but did Larry at 11:00am. I would think some water was ok as long as it was a little and they don't tank up.

[Guest Scouts_mom]

My vet has always said no food or water after midnight.

[Guest Sportingfields]

Any scheduled surgery my vet has ever done was

 

1. No food after 9 PM

2. Let them drink all the water they want right up till we leave the house

 

Drop is always between 7:30 - 8:00 AM, and surgery was always completed by noon

Pick up by 5 PM

 

I've had 3 different vets over the past 21 yrs, we've had dentals, lump removal, spay/neuter, ACL surgery done with same instructions

EVet for stitches, they just ask when they ate last & has never been a problem even if it was an hour before the accident.

One of my vets said that sedation is easier on an empty stomach, less chance of regurgitation after procedure

We've only ever had routine blood draws done during office visits on basically healthy dogs, so there has never been fasting instructions

 

All that said, follow whatever instructions the attending physician for this surgery gave you. Each has their own way of doing things that works best for them.

 

Be ready for your pup to act like you are abusing him by not feeding breakfast per schedule. This is one of the reasons why I love being able to drop off early

Edited June 18, 2016 by Sportingfields

[45MPHK9]

No food after 8pm. Water is always fine.

[moofie]

No food after 10pm and no water after 7am day of GA

 

Drop off at 8.30-9am but don't think they tend to do go into surgery till nearer lunch time as usually have to ring at 1-2pm and at times its ring back later if some emergencys cropped up. Usually blood test pre-op so fasting anyway. I think with some stitching they can use a local anesthetic as i had that option with Pru but she was due a dental.

[macoduck]

My preference is to have pre-op testing done on a visit a week or two prior to the procedure. That way we are not rushed to discuss things and know in advance if a result contra-indicates getting the procedure.

 

No food after 9. Some water allowed in the AM as my vet wants him/her to remain hydrated. I always ask for monitoring and IV line in place.

[NeylasMom]

Our last ones were no food after midnight, water is fine. Seemed to be independent of what time we might start the sedation as one was an afternoon appt and the others were AM appts.

[PatricksMom]

Both of my vets, no food after midnight, water all the way through drop-off. The staff at the new vet tells us no water after midnight, but the vet says keep giving it. I do the blood-work a week in advance, I've never been told to withhold food/water for that.

[KF_in_Georgia]

Blood work on dogs who've eaten can be influenced by fat droplets--lipemia. This can interfere with some tests. I'd never fasted my girl for blood work until the vet asked for it on her latest lab work because she had some iffy numbers on the previous test. (Her fasted test was fine.) I'll fast before blood work from now on just so I don't wind up having to repeat tests because of dubious numbers. http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/preparing-your-pet-for-a-blood-test/274

[GeorgeofNE]

Nothing to eat or drink after midnight.

 

We do blood work well in advance, as my vet won't DO the dental until the lab work comes back, and why schedule the procedure if you're not going to end up doing it?