RE: Withholding food lactating bitches/queens before anaesthesia

Courtney Scales — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 18:26:42 GMT

From the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Anaesthesia and Analgesic, 3^rd Edition:

It says that if the bitch has eaten within the last 6 hours, then they may be a risk of vomiting and/or regurgitation under anaesthesia. This would be relevant for an emergent surgery, however to me it implies that if the caesarean is elective, then they can be fasted. (this is also confirmed in "Anaesthesia for the Veterinary Nurse" by Liz Walsh on page 58.
If it is an emergency surgery and she has eaten, then secure the airway as soon as possible after induction: ETT and inflate cuff before lying her down in dorsal/lateral.
Some physiological changes during pregnancy and their potential effects and preventative actions regarding gastrointestinal management are:
- Delayed gastric emptying, leading to food remaining in the stomach longer than usual, so rapidly induce and protect the airway.
- Decrease oesophageal sphincter tone which can increase the changes of regurg and aspiration of the material. To help prevent this, intubate quickly as mentioned an only extubate when laryngeal reflexes are present (swallowing).
- Increased gastrin levels (due to increased progesterone levels) so treat with omeprazole.
Caesareans do not decrease milk production, however inadepquate pain control and/or a poor recovery will lead to a decrease in milk production.