Surgery and Anesthesia
We perform most of our surgical and dental procedures while animals are under general anesthesia. This allow us to carry out the most delicate tasks while your pet is in a state of deep sleep. We take general anesthesia very seriously and each procedure has a designated trained person who closely monitor your pet from the beginning of anesthesia to a full recovery. Prior to every procedure that require general anesthesia, we place an IV (Intravascular) catheter. This provide us a port from which we supply fluid for both hydration and blood pressure control. It also allows us to deliver intravascular medications.
Our anesthesia protocol comprised of three stages:
1) Pre-anesthetic sedation – This is given approximately 30 minutes before the onset of the surgery. This usually includes a combination of drugs that are tailored to the special needs of each patient.
2) Induction – In this stage we inject a drug that facilitate a complete relaxation, which allows the placement of tracheal tube.
3) Maintenance – The patient is connected to anesthesia machine that delivers anesthesia gas via the tracheal tube.
Once a patient induced under general anesthesia, they are connected to a computerized monitor that records heart rate, oxygen levels, respiration, ECG and blood pressure.
Pre-Anesthetic Blood Testing
We require a pre-anesthetic test for any patient with medical conditions or for patients older than 7-year-old. However, we recommend this blood test for younger animals as well. This blood test is an excellent tool to detect systemic abnormalities such as dehydration, anemia, bleeding disorder, infection and metabolic conditions that could complicate the anesthesia or the surgery.
Prepare for Surgery
- No food or treats after 8:00 PM the night before surgery
- No water after midnight
- If you are currently administering any medications, vitamins, antibiotics, or injections (insulin) withhold the morning dose unless otherwise instructed.
- Usual arrival time for admission is between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. We can board your pet the night before surgery, at no extra charge, if you can't get here in the morning
Surgeries performed at our hospital
- Dental procedures (Teeth cleaning and Extractions)
- Soft tissue surgeries (Spay, Neuter, Mass removal, Wound repair, Abdominal/ear/eye surgeries and others)
- Orthopedic surgeries (Bone fractures, ACL injury, Patella luxation, Amputation, FHO and others)
Consent Form
General anesthesia is inherently risky undertakings. We strive to provide the highest quality care to your pet, and implementing every precautions possible to avoid potential problems. Thank you for entrusting your pet to us. We encourage you to ask questions and seek a full understanding of all medical options. See Anesthesia/Surgery consent form under the "Form" Tab