Whether it’s a routine spay/neuter or a more complex procedure, hearing that your pet needs surgery can be nerve-wracking. As pet parents, we naturally want to do everything possible to ensure a smooth, safe, and stress-free experience—for both our furry friends and ourselves. The good news? A little preparation goes a long way.

Preparing For The Day: 

• Feeding & Medication: We ask that you do not give your pet food or treats after 10pm the night prior to their procedure. If your pet is on medications, our staff will specify which medications should be given on the morning of the procedure.
• Arriving for Surgery: We ask that you arrive at the hospital at your scheduled admittance time. Please allow 10-15 minutes for the admission process. There will be digital authorization forms to review and sign. You will be asked to provide us with your phone contact information, where you may be reached at any time during the day. 

Procedure Information

If your pet has a procedure requiring general anesthesia, such as a dental, spay/neuter, or mass removal, you are likely to have some questions or concerns. General anesthesia and surgical procedures can be stressful for the entire family. Our team understands this, and we have tried our best to break down and fully explain the day’s events as follows:

• Pre-Anesthetic Examination

• • A complete physical examination is performed by a veterinarian on the morning of the procedure. The pet’s overall condition, hydration, heart, and lungs are evaluated to ensure your pet is safe and healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.

• Pre-Anesthetic Blood Work

• • We require current blood work to help detect any underlying problems that may result in higher risk or complications during anesthesia. Blood work can help us determine an appropriate anesthetic protocol for your pet. Health conditions such as renal disease, liver disease, and heart disease all factor into deciding whether your pet is healthy enough for general anesthesia and the surgical procedure.

• Intravenous Therapies

• • An intravenous (IV) catheter is placed to deliver fluids, anesthetic agents, and other medications. Having an IV catheter in place also provides an efficient route to administer emergency drugs should any complications arise during the procedure.
  • Providing intravenous (IV) fluids during an anesthetic procedure will help maintain your pet’s blood pressure and proper hydration. Appropriate blood pressure levels ensure that oxygen and nutrients continue to reach vital organs.
  • IV catheter placement requires shaving of a small patch of fur on your pet’s leg. Once the shaved area is sanitized, we will place the IV catheter and secure it in place. After surgery, your pet’s IV catheter will be removed and a small bandage will be applied to prevent bleeding.

• Pain Management

• • Medications are administered before the procedure to reduce the level of anxiety experienced in an unfamiliar environment. Some of the medications also work to reduce pain during and after surgery.
  • To provide safe anesthesia and pain relief to your pet, medications are administered before, during, and after the procedure as indicated. We take pain management very seriously, and our protocols are based on a multi-modal approach. Through a combination of different types of pain medications and anesthetic agents, including local numbing agents, opioids, and anti- inflammatory drugs, we are able to tailor our protocols to your pet’s needs.
  • Effective pain management is the key to safer anesthesia. Appropriate pain relief allows us to use less inhalant anesthesia, leading to more stable blood pressures, heart rates, and adequate breathing.
  • Oral pain medications are usually sent home with your pet. These medications are continued for several days after the procedure to help control pain and get your pet back to normal more quickly.

• Surgical Inhalant Anesthesia

• • We use Isoflurane, the safest, most gentle inhaled anesthesia. Isoflurane is the preferable inhalant anesthetic for compromised patients, such as those pets with heart disease, liver disease, or geriatric patients. Isoflurane also provides a smoother, faster recovery, so it’s ideal for outpatient procedures.

• Digital Dental Radiographs for Dental Procedures

• • For all dental procedures, we perform a complete oral exam once your pet is sedated, including full-mouth dental x-rays. This allows our doctors to better assess the health of each tooth including the gum tissue, surrounding bone, and roots. Based on this information, we can recommend extraction of teeth found to be infected, abscessed, or otherwise diseased. If tooth extractions are warranted, surgical extraction is performed and the gum tissue will be closed with dissolvable suture. We may also recommend an application of a topical antibiotic, such as Doxirobe or Clindoral, to treat certain areas of focal periodontal disease, such as pocketing in the gum tissue around affected teeth.

• Temperature Regulation

• • Your pet’s body temperature will be maintained during and after the procedure using blankets, warm water circulation mats, socks, warm intravenous fluids, and a warm air circulation device.
  • While under anesthesia, your pet is unable to properly regulate his or her body temperature. If your pet becomes cold, other organ systems can be affected, causing low blood pressure, low heart rate, and prolonging recovery.

• Additional Procedures

• • A complimentary nail trim is offered on all patients under anesthesia. We are able to cut and or dremel the nail as short as possible while they are under anesthesia. This is an elective service which can be declined at time of check in.
  • An anal gland expression could also be performed on all adult pets under anesthesia at your request. This allows us to check for any masses or abnormalities while your pet is asleep.

• Patient Monitoring and Recovery

• • A Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) or an experienced assistant trained in anesthesia, monitors and records your pet’s heart rate, respirations, blood pressure, body temperature, and anesthetic levels during the entire procedure.
  • Trained personnel will monitor your pet’s EKG (electrical heart rhythm), pulse oximetry (oxygen saturation), and end title CO2 (the amount of exhaled carbon dioxide) to ensure your pet’s safety and health during their procedure. Monitoring continues throughout recovery until your pet is awake, stable, and ready to go home.

• Surgical Recheck Exam

• • A follow-up appointment may be scheduled before you take your pet home. This will usually be 7-14 days following your pet’s anesthetic procedure and will allow us to make sure your pet is healing properly.
  • If your pet has external sutures that need to be removed, an appointment will be scheduled for 10-14 days after the Procedure.

Discharge Process

• Discharge time is generally set up between 5-6pm. However, every pet is different and their discharge time may be earlier. We will keep you updated on your pet’s progress and will let you know when to arrive. 
• When you arrive to pick up your pet, we will review information regarding home care instructions and necessary follow-up visits. A technician will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the procedure, how your pet handled anesthesia, or aftercare.
• If someone other than you is needed to pick up your pet, please communicate that at the time of drop-off with your pets technician during their intake. They will be asked to provide identification at pick up.

Preparing for your pet’s surgery can feel overwhelming, but with the right knowledge and support, you can help make the process much smoother—for both of you. Remember, we are your partner in this journey, so don’t hesitate to ask questions or voice concerns.

By staying informed, creating a calm environment, and offering lots of love and care, you’re already doing the most important thing: being there for your pet when they need you most.