Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anesthesia and care for fracture surgery in a French Bulldog
By Mistry, Krishna & Clancy, Niamh·Published in The Veterinary Nurse·2025·Dip AVN (Small Animal) VNCertECC PGCert AVN (Emergency & Critical Care and Anaesthesia & Analgesia) RVN BSc, Lead Medical RVN, VetsforPets Leeds Birstall·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Anaesthetic and nursing considerations for fracture repair in a brachycephalic patient: a case report
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 1-year-old French Bulldog was brought in after being hit by a car, suffering from fractures in the tibia and fibula. Due to the dog's short snout, the veterinary team had to take special care during anesthesia, focusing on pain management and monitoring to keep the dog stable. They used a combination of pain relief methods, including a constant rate infusion of fentanyl and an epidural with bupivacaine, to ensure the dog was comfortable during surgery. Thanks to careful planning and teamwork, the dog received effective pain relief and had a successful recovery after the procedure.
People also search for: French Bulldog fracture treatment · dog anesthesia risks · pain management for dog surgery
Abstract
The rise in popularity of brachycephalic breeds has led to an increased demand for veterinary teams to understand their complex anatomical and physiological needs. These patients present unique challenges when undergoing general anaesthesia. This nursing care report discusses the perioperative management of a one-year-old French Bulldog following a road traffic accident that resulted in tibial and fibular oblique fracture. A multimodal analgesic plan was implemented, including a fentanyl constant rate infusion and bupivacaine epidural, with consideration of opioid-free anaesthesia protocols and their minimum alveolar concentration sparing benefits. Key anaesthetic considerations included airway management, gastroesophageal reflux risk and maintaining cardiovascular stability and normothermia. The importance of pre-anaesthetic planning, vigilant intraoperative monitoring and collaborative decision-making between the registered veterinary nurse and veterinary surgeon is emphasised. This case highlights how RVNs can apply evidence-based practice to optimise analgesia, minimise anaesthetic risks, and advocate for improved outcomes in brachycephalic patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2025.0035