Vet keeps sedaitng dog

Question
hello,

I have two cats and one dog. My Vet is extremely scared of animals and hence never touches them during check up, but asks us to hold the animals before he gives them shots. recently my dog started chewing his paws and as a result they are swollen and red. he has difficulty walking and we of course decided to take him to the vet. There is only one problem. the Vet suggests that he needs to be out for a couple of hours so that he can check what is wrong. In fact, for the past three or four months, my dog has been sedated for routine check up for nearly five times. are there any disadvantages of this? is sedation necessary for routine check up.
My dog is extremely fearful of the vet and hence can be aggressive. however, this is the only method with which the vet treats almost all the patients who visit him. Please help as I cannot bear to see my dog vomiting and tired after the effects wear off. should we change the vet? He is a good vet and my animals do respond favourably to the treatment.

Answer
Sakshi -

Repeated sedation is not good for any animal or person.  There are instances where sedation is necessary to  perform an exam or to take a radiograph, but sedating an animal repeatedly is not the best thing for your pet's health.  Exposure to sedatives can compromise the kidneys and lungs even if is occurs for a short period.

Ask your veterinarian if sedation is absolutely necessary.  If he/she feels that it is necessary and you do not agree, then voice your opinion to the vet.  If you are not comfortable with the conversation, you should seek the expertise of another doctor that appears to be more comfortable with animals.  


Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM