What you need to know before your pet’s surgery

 

Many people have questions about various aspects of their pet’s surgery and we hope this information will help. Sometimes surgery is inevitable. The doctors and staff at March Animal Hospital take our responsibilities in surgery seriously and we take every precaution possible during all procedures. Our state of the art surgical suite provides us with advanced anesthesia and anesthesia monitoring, and a heated surgery table.

 

The doctors of March Animal Hospital are highly trained professionals and are excellent surgeons. Surgical care and treatment begins upon admission to the hospital and does not end until the animal is fully recovered from the procedure.

 

Is the  anesthetic safe?

 

Today’s modern anesthetics and anesthesia monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past. To ensure your pet will get the correct amount of anesthesia needed for his or her procedure and to reduce any medical risk, we require pre-anesthetic blood work be performed on pets at least one week prior to the schedules surgery date. Testing can significantly reduce medical risk and ensure your pet’s health and safety. A healthy appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. For example a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing signs of illness. Testing helps us evaluate your pet’s health up front, so we can avoid problems related to anesthesia.

 

If pre-anesthetic results are in normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence. If results are not in normal ranges, we can alter the anesthetic procedure, or take other precautions to safeguard your pet’s health and reduce the risk of potential complications.

 

Pre-anesthetic blood testing

 

Pre-anesthetic blood testing and exams are required. We prefer the test and exam to be performed at least 7 days before the scheduled surgery date. Blood tests prior to anesthesia and surgery allow us to assess internal organ function to help reduce anesthetic risks. Internal organ abnormalities can not always be picked up on physical examination.

 

Pre Op Instructions

 

No food after 10 pm the evening before surgery (except for rabbits)

Limited water intake on the night before surgery

Bring pet into the hospital between 8:30 and 9:30 on the morning of the procedure

 

Hospital admission

 

On arrival you will be asked to either fill out a surgery consent form or hand the downloaded form from the website to the technicians and they will remind you of what the procedure will entail.

 

Preparation for surgery

 

 

Your pet will be taken into the surgery are with the technician and prepared for surgery.

He or she will be given an examination and a pre-anesthetic pain relief and sedative injection before surgery. A small patch of fur will be shaven off a front leg for the placement of intravenous fluids. After anesthetic induction your pet is connected to monitors and the skin around the surgical area is clipped and scrubbed with antiseptic. All equipment is sterilized and the surgery staff scrubs with antiseptic and wear appropriate clothing and gloves throughout the operation.

 

Monitoring

 

Important monitoring of your pet’s heart rate, breathing, temperature, oxygen levels and other parameters will occur throughout the operation and during recovery. Your pet will be connected to a respiratory monitor and pulse oximeter throughout all general anesthesia procedures.

 

 

Post Op Procedures

 

Monitoring of your pet starts from the time they are admitted, to anesthetic induction, continues throughout the entire surgery, and goes right throughout the recovery period. After surgery, pets are moved into a comfortable cage with appropriate comfortable bedding where they are supervised as they wake up. The veterinarian surgeon and certified technicians observe your pet’s vital signs closely.

 

What do I expect when I take my pet home

 

Your pet may still be groggy or sleepy when you get him or her home. A good nights rest is all that is usually needed and it is important to be kept quiet and comfortable. Do not allow children or other pets excite him or her. You will be advised on discharge from hospital on food or water for your pet but you should ensure he or she doesn’t overeat or drink for the first 24 hours. Some cases will cause diarrhea or vomiting if fed too quickly after release. The regular diet can resume the next day. Ice chips can be offered to your pet the first one to two hours at home. Too much liquid intake may cause vomiting.

 

Your pet will have an Elizabethan Collar on when he or she is released to ensure licking and chewing at the surgical area and possibly infecting the site or opening sutures. The collar should be worn until the stitches are ready to be removed (14 days).

Stitches are removed in most cases in 14 days of the surgery date.

Your pet cannot be bathed for 14 days after surgery. Some people opt to bathe their pets the day prior to surgery.

 

Many pets do not have bowel movements for one, or even two days after surgery. This is normal if the pet is acting normally in all other respects.

 

Weakness after the anesthesia and surgery may last for a few days. After that, normal strength and activity should begin to be evident.

Look at the incision site on a daily basis until the stitches are due to be removed to make sure it is healing without any obvious complication. Check for redness, swelling, or discharge. Call if you notice any of these conditions.

 

For feline declaws, use “Yesterdays News” or shredded newspaper for litter. Regular litter particles are too small and can become entrapped in the incisions and cause infections and delay healing.