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General Information
Surgery- What to Expect
Preparing for Surgery:
Calming Medications:
Prior to your surgery date, we will provide you with calming medications to give the night before surgery. Many times, this includes gabapentin and maropitant. These medications help alleviate stress and prevent nausea.
Presurgical Bloodwork:
Bloodwork will be done within 30 days of surgery to help us determine the safest anesthetic protocol.
Day of Surgery/Anesthetic Procedures:
Fasting:
For dogs and cats over 12 weeks of age, No food after 10:00pm the evening before surgery. Water is allowed until the time of surgery. If your pet is under 12 weeks of age, please follow your normal feeding schedule. Please give the morning dose of calming medication in a few tablespoons of canned food.
Medications: If your pet is on daily medications, please give those as you normally would. If it is needed, give a small amount of food with the medication. If your pet is diabetic, skip their morning dose and bring the insulin with you to check in unless directed otherwise.
Check in: Please come to check in with your pet between 7:30-8:00am on the day of surgery. Allow 15 minutes for the check-in and admission process. Please ensure that you or someone with authority to make medical decisions is available by phone on your pets surgery day.
Physical exam: A full physical exam will be preformed by the doctor performing the surgery. Surgery may occur as scheduled or be delayed as determined after the pre-surgical examination and/or pre-surgical blood work.
Surgical Prep: The skin surrounding the surgical area will be clipped and prepped with a surgical scrub. We will also trim your pets nails.
Anesthesia: Isoflurane inhalant anesthesia may be used. There is always some risk involved with general anesthesia, depending on the overall health of your pet. A Certified Veterinary Technician will monitor your pets cardiac and respiratory function along with other parameters closely during their surgical procedure.
Surgery: The surgical suite and instrumentation used will have been cleaned and sterilized to the highest standards. All surgical personnel will maintain appropriate sterile technique during surgery.
Post Surgical: Our patients are recovered by Certified Veterinary Technicians. Pets must be kept warm and comfortable following surgery. Both staff and doctor will monitor your pet during the hospital stay. We will call/text you after surgery to update you on your pet’s condition and set up a time to discharge. We will meet with you before you take your pet home to give you post-surgical information. If you wish to discuss specific information with the doctor, please let us know in advance.
Days following surgery:
Your pets recovery depends a lot on you. Please restrict your pet for 7 to 10 days after surgery so that they may heal appropriately. They may act like they are feeling fine, but still need time and rest to heal. Leash only activity outside for 7 to 10 days is best after a spay, neuter, mass removal or any other soft tissue surgery. Soft food might be appropriate after a dental procedure. We will send you home with discharge instructions specific for your pet at the discharge.