What You Need to Know Before Your Pet's Upcoming Surgery
Many people have questions about various aspects of their pet's surgery, and we hope this information will help. It also explains the decisions you will need to make before your pet's upcoming surgery.
Is the anesthetic safe?
Today's modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past. Here at Westgate Pet & Bird Hospital, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics, to ensure that a fever or other illness won't be a problem. We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet.
Pre-anesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia. Every pet needs blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic. Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing. If there is a problem, it is much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications. If serious problems are detected, surgery can be postponed until the problem is corrected.
In most cases pre-anesthetic blood-screening can be done in the hospital laboratory the day of the surgery. If, due to age or health concerns the doctor recommends more comprehensive testing an appointment will be scheduled for you a few days prior to your pet's procedure.
For most species it is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. You will need to withhold food after midnight the night prior to 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 will dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed later. Some surgeries do require skin stitches and this will be noted for you on your written discharge instructions. With either type of suture, you will need to keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge. Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but this is an occasional problem you will also need to watch for. If excessive licking becomes a problem an Elizabethan collar will be fitted for your pet.
If there are skin sutures, these will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. You will also need to limit your pet's activity level for a time and no baths are allowed for the first 10 days after surgery or until the sutures are removed.
Will my pet be in pain?
Anything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals. Pets may not show the same symptoms of pain as people do; they usually don't whine or cry, but you can be sure they feel it. Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed. Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations.
The level of pain management and the medications used will be tailored to your pet's needs based on the species and the procedure done. We use newer medications, which are less likely to cause stomach upset. The cost of pain management generally runs $35 to $40 and includes medications given in the hospital pre- and post-operatively as well as any medications that may be sent home with you.
What other decisions do I need to make?
While your pet is under anesthesia, it is the ideal time to perform other minor procedures, such as ear cleaning, nail trimming or implanting an identification microchip. If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time or ask the technician who admits your pet the day of surgery. This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet's care.
Generally, we ask that all surgeries be admitted to the hospital between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. the day of the procedure. At this time the veterinary technician or assistant will provide you with a written healthcare plan that includes cost and answer any additional questions you may have about your pet's procedure. You should allow 10 to 15 minutes of time to complete the admissions paperwork and make decisions on pre-anesthetic blood testing and other options available. When you pick up your pet after surgery you can also plan to spend about 10 to 15 minutes to go over your pet's home care needs.
We will call you the day before your scheduled surgery appointment, to confirm the time you will be dropping your pet off and to answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to call us with any questions about your pet's health or surgery.
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