Ashley Mitek
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine

Whether a patient is human or animal, there are always risks associated with anesthesia during surgery. However, several studies have shown that the risk of anesthetic-related death in humans is far less than that of veterinary patients.

According to one 2008 paper published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, one of the most prestigious veterinary journals, the estimated risk of anesthesetic-related mortality in dogs is approximately 0.1 percent or 1 in 1,000. Though 0.1 percent is still low, the risk to humans is estimated to be much less, between 0.02-0.05 percent, or about 2 in every 10,000.

Dr. Stuart Clark-Price is a board certified veterinary anesthesiologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He is one of about 150 veterinary anesthesiologists in the country who has spent several years training after veterinary school to specialize in the field. He recommends that, "Owners should be asking their veterinarian if they are meeting the minimum standards for anesthesia set forth by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists."

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