Q:I need to spay my dog, a 3-year-old mix named Holly. The trouble is, I'm so scared of anesthesia I can't bring myself to have it done. I'm a responsible dog owner and I would never let her breed another dog but I know she'll live longer if she's fixed. What should I do?

A: Would it be callous of me to suggest you take a natural anti-anxiety elixir or submit to acupuncture on the day of the procedure? I would never recommend you take a drug, of course, but you've got to move beyond your fears and do what's best for Holly.

Perhaps it would help you to know that you're not alone. Many pet owners fear anesthesia for their pets more than they do for themselves.

In my experience, anesthephobia (as I like to call it) has both rational and irrational components. The rational fear has to do with understanding that any anesthetic procedures carry a statistical risk of reactions we call ''adverse anesthetic events.'' The irrational fears are enhanced by scary, second-hand knowledge of terrible experiences friends, family or acquaintances have suffered with their pets.

Everyone, it seems, has heard of someone whose pet succumbed to a bad anesthetic reaction. Nonetheless, you should know that the risk of an adverse anesthetic event in small-animal medicine is minimal.

Moreover, anesthetic risks can be mitigated by taking a variety of precautions. Here's a brief list:

• Ask your vet for pre-anesthetic labwork if it has not already been recommended.

• Make sure you ask about monitoring equipment. A pulse oximeter to measure the oxygen content of the blood and a heart rate monitor are required to meet the minimum standard of care. An EKG monitor is a big plus but it's not always used on all pets. Request that it be employed as well.

• The most important element is your trust in your vet and his or her staff. Make sure you're comfortable with the degree of knowledge and experience they've demonstrated in all other areas. If you can manage this third point, you can be sure you've done your best for your loved one.

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