Evalution of Age as a Risk Factor For Perianesthetic Morbidity and Mortality in the Dog

Summary This study was intended to determine if age is a risk factor for perianesthetic morbidity/mortality in dogs and to identify other factors that may be important. A prospectivecohort study compiled data from 942 dogs (477 females; 465 males) ≥6 months undergoing inhalation anesthesia for≥30 minutes. were included. Serious perianesthetic complications occurred in 79 dogs. Logistic regression used a final model contanining age and ASA grade and showed a significant estimated odds ratio (OR̂) for old vs young or middle‐aged dogs of 1·89 (95% CI: 1·05,3·38). The OR̂for ASA grade increased significantly with grade — ASA grade 3:1or2 = 3.4, ASA grade 4:1or2 = 7·1, and ASA grade 5:1or2 =18·8. Thus, old dogs were nearly twice as likely to develop serious perianesthetic complications, even when accounting for ASA grade. However, conditions that increased ASA assessment by one grade had more impact on increasing the likelihood of serious perianesthetic complete.