anasthesia on older dog?

[lirpa23]

Well, our 6 year old rescue is finally starting to perk up. His cryptorchid neuter was 10 days ago, he his healing from an infection of the incision there, he developed kennel cough, which he is finally recovering from.

When we went to pick him up from the pound, we noticed a large mass on his back leg. The shelter worker told us the vet said it was almost certainly a fatty tumor, which was harmless.

Well, now I am worried. It looks like it has shrunk in diameter, but it is harder. My local vet said it is a tumor, but not a fatty tumor. So, that means either risking it and leaving it there, or having him put under for another surgery, which I hate doing at his age, especially since he is just recovering from all this other stuff. Yesterday was the first day I actually saw the poor guy jog a little and seem happy and alert.

When we get the surgery for the tumor removal, is there a type of anasthesia that will leave his system faster and be easier on his body? After his neuter at the shelter, it seemed to take him forever to recover from the drugs. I have no idea what they used on him.

Anyone else here have expierence with putting an older dog through surgery? How long should I wait, considering he is still on antibiotics for kennel cough?

 

[Austin's Mom]

Did your vet aspirate the tumor to see what it is? My Austin just had two surgeries (see my thread titled vet visit tomorrow) within a two and a half week period for a tumor on his side, he's probably 10 now, I don't know his actual birthday, and he did fine with the anastesia. I don't know what they used, and of course every dog is different. As far as the kennel cough, you should probably ask your vet about that, too. Gosh this poor baby has been thru so much already. Give him a great big hug and kiss for me, ok?

 

[dafzichu]

If you are worried about the anesthesia, I would echo what Austin's mom said, have them do a needle aspiration to see if it is something that really needs to be removed. If it isn't cancerous, then maybe you can just leave it be. My parents had this done several times with one of their Boxers. Once it was MCT and had to be removed, but the others came back noncancerous and they just left them.

Glad to hear this guy is doing well. Let us know things turn out.

 

[Jan]

I would see if you can find out what kind of anesthesia that they used. Maybe it was ACE.:( I would also ask to have the lump aspirated to make sure that removal is necessary. I don't think that 6 is all that old. Anesthesia shouldn't really be a problem.

Good luck!