Surgery
The thought of your pet having surgery can be scary. We understand this and offer pre-surgical consultations to answer any questions that you may have. During the consultation, your pet will be examined by a veterinarian and we will obtain a small blood sample to make sure that the procedure will be safe. Please withhold food after 8:00pm the night before your pet's surgery and do not feed them breakfast the morning of the procedure. All surgical appointments should arrive between 7:30 am - 8:00 am. Please review our Anesthetic/Surgical Consent Form to prepare for your pet's Big Day!
From the moment you arrive, your pet will be cared for by an experienced veterinary surgical nurse. After being evaluated by the doctor, your pet will receive a pain injection to reduce anxiety and block discomfort before it can start. An IV catheter will be placed so that your pet can receive fluids during the surgery, and their airway is secured to monitor their breathing. Vital signs including blood pressure; a continuous EKG; oxygen and carbon dioxide levels; heartrate, respiratory rate, and body temperature are monitored throughout the procedure using state of the art equipment. Your pet will be wrapped in a circulating water or warm air blanket both during the surgery and in recovery to keep them nice and warm. Our surgical team uses sterile (aseptic) technique, and we have a fully equipped surgical suite to perform a wide variety of soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries. Following the surgery, your pet will receive pain medication to minimize any discomfort they may feel. Our surgeons also utilize local anesthetic blocks, epidurals, continuous infusions, and pain patches when appropriate.
