dog at vets - muzzle question

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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so - you leave a dog for a routine op and take the dog in muzzled. You explain the dog can and will display fear aggression. Would you expect the muzzle to be replaced while the dog was still partially sedated? Is there a reason for not doing so? Am talking about a basket muzzle here so dog is able to breath properly and drink with it on.
 
Depends on the type of dog - shape of its face etc and how tight a fit the muzzle is. Problem is some dogs with short noses and big tongue potentially could have problems breathing if muzzle is on. Difficult to pull the tongue out the way and keep it there. Sometimes would bring the dog round in a big kennel without muzzle and let the owner come and collect it straight from the kennel.
Also depending on the anaesthetic agent used some dogs come round quite quickly - its not a gentle slide back to conciousness so there isnt neccessarily a safe time to get the muzzle back on.
 
Would never leave a muzzle on a dog under sedation or under general anaesthetic in practice!! Fine whilst they are Getting there drugs but never once sedated or anaesthetised. Too dangerous in my opinion and I'm intrigued to know how u intubate
 
*** sorry on phone!

Would be intrigued to know how you can intubate through a baskerville muzzle with the correct size tube! I'd rather risk getting bitten than risk the dogs life. X
 
Yes I would expect the muzzle to be replaced while the dog was still half sedated unless there was some concern with recovery.

Sedated dogs may be muzzled depending on attitude/personality in our practice....I do know a young vet who lost half a finger to a heavily sedated unmuzzled Rottie who shook the sedation long enough to bite then return to looking practically unconscious, so as a result I treat all suspect dogs accordingly. Sedated dogs get a basket muzzle on in case of vomiting.

Better to be safe than sorry and muzzles are easily removed if there are issues and dogs are supervised in recovery. However If I am bitten badly on the hand Il be out of work...depending on how badly I might lose my job and ability to do surgery. Its never worth the risk.

Some dogs I know can get the Basket muzzles off quite easily as they hook their claws in to pull, I've seen more dogs get Baskets off then nylon muzzles, so I prefer using nylon ones where the mouth is closed on known bitey dogs personally. In general the timeframes usually aren't that long that eating and drinking is an issue.

I have also met a few dogs who got both types of muzzles put on.... to give you a fighting chance,ie time to get out of the kennel once they got the basket off, those guys were interesting to deal with. Had another where that was not an option and he had to be sedated to be brought in and out of the hospital, as well as muzzled throughout.

Have no idea how you would intubate through a basket muzzle either...but I can imagine a muzzle being been kept on until well induced and then refitted around the tube. Of course that is only if the dog was enough of a danger than issues with a G.A or a rapid recovery from the GA would cause risk to life and limb. A dog who bites and truly means it can be very dangerous depending on size.

The dog we sedated in and out of the hospital had a catether(sp?im blanking on that one) with a long line attached for safety,so we could sedate him quickly if needed, while he was under and after his G.A's as well as muzzled as soon as his tube was removed. I would have happily risked his life rather than risk mayhem if he had woken rapidly after his GA. He was a very dangerous creature with strangers.
 
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