EFFECT OF ANESTHESIA AND SURGERY ON ENERGY-EXPENDITURE DETERMINED BY INDIRECT CALORIMETRY IN DOGS WITH MALIGNANT AND NONMALIGNANT CONDITIONS

Objective-To determine energy expenditure (EE) of apparently resting, client-owned dogs with malignant or nonmalignant diseases that were re covering from anesthesia and surgery, and compare those values with va lues from clinically normal, apparently resting, client-owned dogs. An imals-40 apparently resting, client-owned dogs that had been given gen eral anesthesia for various elective and nonelective surgical procedur es, and 30 apparently resting, clinically normal client-owned dogs use d as controls. Procedure-EE was determined, using an open-flow indirec t calorimetry system. Each dog was evaluated before and after surgery (0, 1, 2, and 3 days after surgery, then al suture removal > 14 days l ater) and compared with apparently resting, clinically normal, client- owned dogs (n = 30). Parameters evaluated were rate of oxygen consumpt ion (V-O2/kg of body weight: ml/min/kg; V-O2/kg(0.75): ml/min/kg(0.75) ), EE (EE/kg: kcal/kg/d; EE/kg(0.75): kcal/kg(0.75)/d), and respirator y quotient. Results-Surgery and anesthesia did not significantly alter any of these parameters at any time assessed in any group. The pretre atment V-O2 and EE were significantly lower in the dogs with cancer, c ompared with dogs of other groups. Conclusions-These data suggest that the EE of a restricted group of dogs that undergo anesthesia and surg ery for malignant and nonmalignant conditions does not increase from b aseline values or when compared with values in clinically normal, clie nt-owned dogs. Clinical Relevance-This information may be of value whe n planning nutritional treatment for dogs recovering from anesthesia a nd surgery.