1. The first step would be to schedule a Pre-Surgical Nurse Examination with our Veterinary Nurse. At this appointment, our Veterinary Nurse will perform a physical exam on your pet and take blood to run the Pre-Anesthetic Bloodscreen.
2. Before your put is put under any type of anesthetic, we will need to run Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork. We need to ensure that all of your pet's internal organs are working well and that he/she is healthy on the inside. We want to make sure that your pet does not have any underlying health problems before an anesthetic is introduced. This will, in turn, decrease the risk of being put under an anesthetic and will determine the anesthetic protocol for your pet. The Pre-Anesthetic Bloodscreen includes tests similar to those run at human hospitals.
3. Throughout the procedure, your pet will be connected to a gas anesthetic. This is the same type of anesthetic used in human hospitals.
4. Your pet will also be connected to intravenous fluids before, during, and after the procedure. These IV fluids help your pet remain hydrated throughout the surgery and help pass the anesthetic through your pets kidneys, minimizing risk. It also gives us immediate access to a vein in a case of emergency so that we can begin immediate treatment.
5. A Veterinary Nurse will place heart monitoring and blood pressure devices on your pet and will monitor him/her throughout the entire surgery.
6. Your pet will also be placed on a warm air thermal pillow during the entire procedure to maintain his/her body temperature and makes sure they stay warm.
7. While your pet is under the anesthetic, we take the opportunity to trim your pet's nails.
8. Your pet's surgery is performed by one of our Veterinary Doctors, assisted by our Veterinary Nurse in a professional and sterile environment.
9. Your pet will be given medications for pain relief before the end of their procedure to minimize any discomfort after the surgery.
10. Your pet's post-surgical recovery is closely monitored by our Veterinary Nurse and Nurses Aid.
11. After the surgery, you will be called with an update and we will set up a discharge appointment at a time appropriate to your pet's recovery time.
12. Your pet may be sent home with Dermicare Bitterspray and/or an Elizabethan collar to ensure that he/she doesn't lick or pick at their incision area. We must take special precaution that your pet does not infect their incision site once you take them home
13. 10-14 days after surgery, your pet will return to the hospital for a courtesy surgical recheck with one of our nurses to ensure the incision area has healed and to ensure no evidence of infection is present.
