Before the day of surgery, there are a few things you need to know ... 

Is the anesthetic safe?

Today's monitors make surgery safer than ever. We'll do a thorough exam before administering anesthesia and adjust the amount and type accordingly. Pre-anesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia, ensuring that the liver and kidneys can withstand the stress. Even animals who appear healthy can have organ system problems that can't be detected without blood testing. Animals that have minor dysfunction will tolerate anesthesia better if they receive IV fluids during surgery. If serious problems are detected, we may recommend postponing surgery until the problem is corrected.

It's important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia.  You'll need to withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery. Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery.

Will my pet have stitches?

For many surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin. These dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed. Some surgeries do require skin sutures, which are usually removed 10-14 days after surgery. With either type of suture, you'll need to watch the incision for swelling or discharge. Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but it's something you'll need to watch for. You'll also need to limit your pet's activity level for a time, and no baths are allowed for at least 10 days after surgery.

Will my pet be in pain?

Anything that causes pain in people probably causes pain in animals. Pets may not show the same symptoms of pain as people do; they usually don't whine or cry, but they feel it. Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed. Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations.

For dogs, we may recommend an oral anti-inflamatory the day after surgery and several days after to lessen the risk of discomfort and swelling. We use newer medications, which are less likely to cause stomach upset and can be given even the morning of surgery. The cost varies depending on the size of your dog.

Because cats do not tolerate standard pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol, we are limited in what we can give them. Recent advances in pain medications have resulted in better pain control in cats than ever before. We administer a pain injection 10 minutes prior to surgery. After surgery, pain medication is given on a case by case basis. 

Any animal that appears to be in pain will receive additional pain medication. Providing pain relief is the humane, caring thing to do for your pet.

What other decisions do I need to make?

While your pet is under anesthesia, it's the ideal time to perform other minor procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip. If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please ask ahead of time. This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet's care.

When you bring your pet in for surgery, we will need a few minutes with you to fill out paperwork and make decisions on the blood testing and other options. When you pick up your pet after surgery, plan to spend some time with the staff to go over your pet's aftercare.

We will call you the night before surgery to confirm the time you will be dropping your pet off and to answer questions. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to call us with any questions about your pet's health or surgery.