PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.
Anesthetic Procedure
We use a combination of pre-anesthetic medications/injectable and/or inhalant anesthetics to achieve optimum levels of anesthesia and pain control that are safe for your pet. For short procedures, an injectable anesthetic is given alone that produces a good plane of anesthesia with a quick recovery. For most procedures, your pet is anesthetized and then intubated (insertion of a tube into the trachea or wind pipe). This will ensure that your pet is able to receive oxygen at all times and prevents aspiration of any fluids into the lungs. Anesthesia is maintained with a gas anesthetic, Isoflurane, which is very safe. Our experienced veterinary technicians will adjust the anesthesia as directed by the veterinarian. Only a licensed veterinarian is allowed to perform surgery.
Monitoring & Pain Management
Throughout their procedure and stay, your pet will be closely monitored by an experienced technician who will utilize our state-of-the-art monitor that records heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen levels, respiration, ECG, and core body temperature. They will assist and alert the veterinarian of any issues before, during, or after the procedure. We strongly believe in compassionate, quality, medical care for our patients. As a result, all surgery patients will receive pain management before, during, and after surgery as needed. Additionally, a therapeutic class IV laser treatment is performed on the incision site of all appropriate procedures. The laser treatment helps to decrease pain and speed healing by using the energy for the laser to increase circulation which stimulates tissue repair and cellular growth. Oral pain medication may be prescribed to go home with your pet and additional laser treats can be scheduled to help with healing and post-surgical pain. Additional information will be given at discharge. We hope this protocol will reduce any discomfort experienced and aid in a quicker recovery.
Intravenous Catheterization & Fluids
For most procedures, an intravenous catheter and fluid therapy will be administered to help support blood pressure, hydration, aid in anesthetic recovery, and have quick access to the circulatory system in case of an unforeseen emergency. We will have to shave a small patch of fur on your pet’s leg to do so.
Potential Risks/Complications for Common Surgeries
- Spay: Bleeding, Infection, Suture Material Reaction, Recurrent Heat, Urinary Incontinence, Weight Gain
- Neuter: Bleeding, Infection, Scrotal Swelling, Suture Material Reaction, Weight Gain
- Feline Declaw: Bleeding, infection, limping/lameness, regrowth of nail, behavioral changes
- Tumor/Lump Removal: Bleeding, Infection, Swelling and Drainage, Tumor Re-growth, Suture Material Reaction
Following the Procedure
You will be given specific instructions for how to care for your pet after their procedure. These instructions will also include what precautions to take, what to look for in case of complications and when to return for a recheck. We recommend all pets return for the recheck at the recommended time to ensure proper healing and remove any restrictions from your pet's activities. Any testing performed at the time of your pet’s procedure, such as a biopsy or culture, can take 3-7 business days for results. Some specialized tests will take longer. Our doctor’s will call you as soon as we have the results.
It is important for you to understand that there is always a risk of anesthetic and surgical complications anytime these procedures are performed. We strive to take the highest quality care of your pet and take all the added precautions you allow to avoid potential problems. Thank you for entrusting your pet’s care to us.
