“My pet has heart disease. Isn’t anesthesia too risky?”
That’s a very common and completely valid concern from pet parents. Pets are family, and it’s natural to worry about putting them under anesthesia, especially if they have a heart condition.
But does heart disease mean your furry friend can’t have anesthesia?
Not necessarily.
It depends on the type and severity of the heart condition:
Mild cases (like early-stage mitral valve disease) usually handle anesthesia quite well.
Moderate but stable cases (like more advanced heart disease or controlled pulmonary hypertension) carry a bit more risk, but with the right care, anesthesia can still be safely done. Generally, a more carefully planned protocol and intensive care are recommended.
Severe or unstable cases (like pets in active heart failure or with serious arrhythmias) definitely need special planning — but even then, it’s not always a no. It just means a team approach with experts may be needed.
Benefits versus Risks
When a pet with heart disease needs a procedure that requires anesthesia, for instance, dental cleaning, lump removal, or something more urgent — one of the most important steps is weighing the benefits of the procedure against the potential anesthetic risks.
Potential Benefits
Treating pain or infection to relieve pain, remove a source of infection, or improve your pet’s overall quality of life.
Removing a tumor before it spreads or addressing a dental issue before it leads to systemic infection.
Certain surgeries or diagnostics may help manage the pet’s long-term health.
Possible Risks
Anesthesia can affect heart rate, blood pressure, and how well the heart pumps — all of which matter in pets with heart conditions.
Some heart diseases make pets more prone to fluid overload or abnormal rhythms, especially under anesthesia.
Recovery from anesthesia might be slower or more complicated if the heart isn’t functioning optimally.
To ensure a safer anesthetic procedure, veterinarians usually perform several pre-anesthetic evaluations. Cardiac examination is one part of this process, but the risk of anesthesia can also be affected by other factors, such as the pet’s age, or whether they are overweight or underweight, or have other concurrent diseases. A thorough check-up by an experienced vet before anesthesia is the key:
Blood pressure measurement to rule out hypertension.
An echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) performed by an experienced vet or cardiologist provides detailed information on cardiac function, chamber dimensions, and the severity of the heart condition – important to predict the potential risks associated with anesthesia.
Chest X-rays to examine the airway and lung condition and heart size.
Blood tests help make sure your pet’s red and white blood cells, platelets, liver, kidneys, thyroid glands, and overall health are in good condition.
Electrolyte checks and electrocardiography if irregular heartbeats are suspected.
Careful adjustment and administration of the anesthesia
When a pet has heart disease, veterinarians take special steps to keep them safe:
Choose heart-friendly medications
Use the lowest possible doses of gas anesthesia
Be very careful with drips to avoid overhydration and heart failure
Monitor blood pressure, oxygen levels, and heart rhythm closely throughout the procedure
During the entire anesthesia process, the recovery period is the highest-risk phase, with a mortality rate as high as 81%! Therefore, anesthetists will closely monitor the pet’s vital signs after the surgery to ensure stability.
