title: Validity and client use of information from the World Wide Web regarding veterinary anesthesia in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the validity of the information on the World Wide Web concerning veterinary anesthesia in dogs and to determine the methods dog owners use to obtain that information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web-based search and client survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  73 Web sites and 92 clients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web sites were scored on a 5-point scale for completeness and accuracy of information about veterinary anesthesia by 3 board-certified anesthesiologists. A search for anesthetic information regarding 49 specific breeds of dogs was also performed. A survey was distributed to the clients who visited the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital during a 4-month period to solicit data about sources used by clients to obtain veterinary medical information and the manner in which information obtained from Web sites was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The general search identified 73 Web sites that included information on veterinary anesthesia; these sites received a mean score of 3.4 for accuracy and 2.5 for completeness. Of 178 Web sites identified through the breed-specific search, 57 (32%) indicated that a particular breed was sensitive to anesthesia. Of 83 usable, completed surveys, 72 (87%) indicated the client used the Web for veterinary medical information. Fifteen clients (18%) indicated they believed their animal was sensitive to anesthesia because of its breed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information available on the internet regarding anesthesia in dogs is generally not complete and may be misleading with respect to risks to specific breeds. Consequently, veterinarians should appropriately educate clients regarding anesthetic risk to their particular dog.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Erik H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hofmeister
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Lindsey B C
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Emma J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Love
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000592:standards; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*