Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High blood sugar during anesthesia in 400 nondiabetic dogs and risk
By Kim, Jihyun et al.·Published in Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia·2026·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Incidence and risk factors for intra-anesthetic hyperglycemia in 400 nondiabetic dogs: a retrospective cohort study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that nearly 15% of nondiabetic dogs experienced high blood sugar levels during anesthesia for surgery or diagnostic procedures. Factors that increased the risk of this hyperglycemia included having elevated blood sugar before anesthesia, being classified as having a higher health risk, and the use of certain medications like medetomidine, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Additionally, dogs undergoing surgery and those that became too cold during the procedure were also more likely to have high blood sugar. Monitoring blood sugar levels during anesthesia is important for dogs with these risk factors to ensure their safety.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of intra-anesthetic hyperglycemia and identify associated risk factors in nondiabetic dogs undergoing general anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, single-center cohort study. ANIMALS: A total of 400 client-owned, nondiabetic dogs anesthetized for surgical or diagnostic procedures between May and December 2024. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed to collect data on patient characteristics, anesthetic management and intra-anesthetic blood glucose concentrations measured via arterial blood gas analysis. Hyperglycemia was defined as blood glucose > 180 mg dL(10 mmol L) and severe hyperglycemia as > 300 mg dL(16.7 mmol L). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent associated factors of hyperglycemia. RESULTS: Intra-anesthetic hyperglycemia occurred in 14.8% (59/400) of dogs, and severe hyperglycemia was observed in 4.3% (17/400). Multivariable logistic regression identified the following independent risk factors for hyperglycemia: preanesthetic fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg dL(5.6 mmol L) [odds ratio (OR) 4.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.98-9.79, p < 0.001], American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA status) ≥ 3 (OR 2.78, 95% CI: 1.18-6.54, p = 0.019), medetomidine use (OR 4.62, 95% CI: 1.03-20.75, p = 0.046), undergoing surgery (OR 3.09, 95% CI: 1.21-7.85, p = 0.018), intra-anesthetic hypothermia < 36 °C (OR 3.09, 95% CI: 1.29-7.38, p = 0.011), dopamine (OR 22.75, 95% CI: 9.36-55.33, p < 0.001) and norepinephrine use (OR 4.63, 95% CI: 1.76-12.20, p = 0.002), with dopamine showing the strongest association. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intra-anesthetic hyperglycemia occurred in nondiabetic dogs, with specific risk factors identified: elevated preanesthetic fasting glucose, ASA status ≥ 3, medetomidine use, surgery, intra-anesthetic hypothermia, dopamine and norepinephrine use. Patients with these risk factors may be predisposed to hyperglycemia, highlighting the importance of intra-anesthetic glucose monitoring.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41494931/