Surgery
Your pet is closely monitored during anesthesia and surgery, a trained member of our staff is with your pet continuously from beginning of anesthesia to recovery. Almost all anesthetic procedures require the placement of an IV catheter and use of IV fluids to prevent dehydration and provide support to the circulatory system, as well as aid in a quicker recovery from anesthesia. Short procedures may only need a sedative to perform. For most procedures, your pet will be given an injection to allow us to intubate, and then maintained on gas anesthesia, which is very safe. We keep small animals warm while they are under anesthesia with a warm air circulating cushion. A computerized monitor records pulse, heart rate, oxygen levels, respiration, ECG and blood pressure. Of great importance to us is that all patients are given appropriate pain medications according to their procedure. We perform spays, neuters and many other surgeries. Some examples are growth removals on the skin, treatments of wounds, etc. Others may involve abdominal surgery to remove a swallowed object causing a blockage, or removing bladder stones to treat /prevent urinary blockages. Orthopedic surgeries are scheduled with a specialist, who comes to our practice and performs the surgery at our facility.
Pre-Anesthetic Blood Testing
We highly recommend that a pre-anesthetic blood profile to be performed on all pets 6 years of age and older, and require it for patients 8 years of age and older, or at any age if there are health problems. The purpose is to maximize patient safety, and can be done on the morning of the procedure prior to anesthesia.
This blood work alerts us to the presence of dehydration, anemia, bleeding disorder, infection, diabetes, and kidney or liver disease that could complicate the anesthesia or the surgery. These conditions may not be detected without a pre-anesthetic profile.
CBC: PCV and Red Blood cell count (anemia, dehydration, bleeding disorder), White Blood Cell count (infection), Platelet count (Clotting disorder)
Profile: BUN and Creatine (Kidney), ALKP and ALT (Liver), Glucose (Sugar), Total Protein (Dehydration)
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 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. We can board your pet the night before surgery, at no extra charge, if you can't get here in the morning
Optional Services
Services that are appropriate to do while your pet is under anesthesia can include nail trims, microchips, feline blood test for FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), combing out mats, etc.
Surgeries performed at our hospital
- Wound repair
- Dental procedures (Teeth cleaning and Extractions)
- Soft tissue surgeries (Spay, Neuter, Mass removal, Abdominal/ear/eye surgeries and others)
- Orthopedic surgeries (Bone fractures, ACL injury, Patella luxation, Amputation, FHO and others)
Consent Form
It is important for you to understand that there is always a risk of anesthetic and surgical complications anytime these procedures are performed. We strive to take the highest quality care of your pet and and take all the added precautions you allow to avoid potential problems. Thank you for entrusting your pet to us.
Your signature is needed on a statement that says you understand the risks of general anesthesia, and of the surgery requested, that we have permission to do the stated procedure, and lists any optional services requested. You may be may be asked to sign an estimate at this time.
We must have a phone number where we can reach you during the surgery day.
You are welcome to check up on your pet's status. However, we request you allow plenty of time for your pet's procedure to be done. We will call you after the procedure, and at this time can give you an idea about when your pet may be discharged. Our team knows surgery can be an anxious time and are always available to answer any and all of your questions..