DENTAL PROCEDURE CONSENT FORM
Consent for Anaesthesia and Surgery
I understand that while every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure my pet's safety, all anaesthetic and surgical procedures carry inherent risks. These risks exist even when a thorough physical examination and appropriate pre-anaesthetic testing have been performed.
I acknowledge that possible complications associated with anaesthesia and surgery may include, but are not limited to:
Allergic or adverse reactions to medications.
Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or breathing.
Cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Bleeding or haemorrhage.
Infection or delayed wound healing.
Damage to surrounding tissues or organs.
Pain, swelling, bruising, or formation of a seroma.
Anaesthetic recovery complications.
Unexpected reactions due to previously undiagnosed disease or individual patient variation.
Death, although uncommon, is a recognised risk of any procedure requiring general anaesthesia.
I understand that despite appropriate monitoring, skilled veterinary care, and accepted standards of practice, complications can occur that cannot always be predicted or prevented.
Emergency Treatment During Anaesthesia
In the event of an unexpected emergency during my pet's anaesthetic or surgical procedure, the attending veterinarian may determine that immediate treatment is necessary to preserve my pet's life or prevent significant suffering.
These treatments may include, but are not limited to:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Administration of emergency medications
Oxygen therapy and assisted ventilation
Intravenous fluid therapy
Blood or blood product administration (where available)
Additional surgical procedures deemed necessary to manage an unexpected complication
I understand that these emergency treatments will incur additional costs beyond the original estimate.
Potential Risks and Complications of Dental Procedures
I understand that complications may occur during or after dental procedures, including but not limited to:
Jaw Fracture: In some patients, the jaw bone is weakened and susceptible to fracture during tooth extractions. High-risk patients include those that are small, geriatric, or have severe periodontal disease.
Retained Tooth Roots: Fragments of tooth roots may remain after extractions, which may require further treatment or surgery.
Infection: Due to oral bacteria, post-operative infection may occur at extraction or surgical sites, and additional procedures or medications may be required.
Poor Wound Healing (Wound Dehiscence): Surgical sites may reopen or fail to heal properly, and further treatment or revision surgery may be required.
Nerve Damage: Rarely, nerve injury secondary to local anaesthetic injections or dental procedures may result in temporary or permanent nerve dysfunction.
Oronasal Fistula Formation: An abnormal tunnel connecting the oral cavity (mouth) to the nasal cavity can occur, particularly after upper canine tooth extractions.
Staged Procedures/Prolonged Anaesthesia: If the dental procedure is extensive (anaesthetic over 3 hours) or complications arise, we may choose to ‘stage’ the procedure to maintain patient safety. Staging means that we may choose to recover the patient mid-way through the procedure (with urgent and painful conditions prioritised to be completed first) and complete the procedure at a later date. The decision to stage a procedure is made to ensure patient safety, as prolonged procedures carry increased anaesthetic risk. Additional costs will be incurred with additional procedures. We will endeavour to contact you to discuss this decision.
If the owner cannot be contacted while the patient is under anaesthesia, we will proceed at our discretion, with the patient’s welfare and safety as a priority.
IMPORTANT: If you have any questions or wish to discuss the details of this consent form, please contact the clinic by phoning 07 544 2604 and make a time for a nurse to contact you.