Please read and follow the steps outlined to prepare your pet for surgery. This information is provided with your pet's safety in mind.
1. If your dog or cat is undergoing an anesthetic procedure, please withhold food after 8.00 p.m. the evening before surgery; You may leave water available for your pet. If your exotic pet is undergoing an anesthetic procedure, please contact us for instructions appropriate to their specific needs.
2. Surgery check-in is between 7:30 a.m. & 8:00 a.m. on the day of surgery. Please give yourself approximately 15 minutes as this is our general surgery admission time and there may be other patients also arriving to check-in. You will meet with a technician who will answer any questions you have prior to the procedure, provide you with the admission forms, and obtain your contact information.
Dog Owners: Please walk your dog prior to check in so they can go to the bathroom before the procedure.
3. We will contact you after your pet's procedure with an update and to schedule a release time.
Hospital/Surgical Information
Preanesthetic blood work: blood work helps monitor the status of the patient's major organs that help the body metabolize the anesthesia. The blood work also helps determine healing ability, blood clotting ability, and general health status of the patient. This blood work may also be the baseline for your pet by which we can monitor trends throughout their life.
Pre-anesthetic exam: An exam on your pet will be performed by the surgery doctor prior to any procedure,
I.V. Catheterization: A small area will be shaved on your pet's leg where the I.V. catheter is inserted to allow fluids to be administered during your pet's procedure.
Surgical Site Preparation: The skin surrounding the surgical area will be shaved and scrubbed to prepare the area. Instruments used during surgical and dental procedures are sterilized prior to each patient.
Anesthesia: The anesthetic protocol used will be customized to your pet's procedure based on your pet's age, medical history, duration of the procedure, and potential level of discomfort associated with the procedure.
Monitoring: All surgical patients are monitored by a technician before, during, and after the procedure.
POSTSURGICAL CARE
The surgery doctor will monitor your pet after the procedure and determine a release time based on this evaluation. A doctor or technician will meet with you at the release appointment, and review the written post-surgical care information.