What to Ask Before Pet Surgery

At Day Creek Animal Hospital in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, we understand that pet surgery can be unnerving for pet owners. Our approach to managing anxiety and pet recovery involves education. Understanding your pet's medical condition and surgery will hopefully offer some relief for your fears.

Before choosing any type of surgery for your pet, you will want to weigh other non-surgical options. Understand the physical and economic impact of your pet's medical condition. Despite exceptional surgical techniques, any surgical procedure presents infection risks. Additionally, the use of anesthesia during surgery presents certain health risks. Each surgery and pet is unique and will require a distinct set of pre-operative and post-operative instructions.

Some of the basic pre-operative questions that every pet owner needs to ask before a surgery are:

• Will my pet need to fast (food and water) before surgery and for how long?
• What are pre-operative medications that might need to be administered? What if my pet is currently taking medication? Can I continue to administer current medication?
• How long will the surgery take?

If your pet is being anesthetized:

• How long does the anesthesia stay in a dog, cat, or other pet?
• What are the common side effects of anesthesia?
• What are the risks associated with anesthesia?

Post-op questions to have answered should include:

• How long should it take to recover from surgery?
• What can my pet eat after surgery and how much time must pass before my pet can eat?
• Will I need to medicate my pet for pain or to ward off infection? If you will need to medicate your pet, try to obtain the medication before the surgery.
• What are the activity restrictions?
• What can I do at home to help make my pet more comfortable?

The most important question you can ask your veterinarian before your pet’s surgery is, “What are the signs of post-operation complications?”

• Swelling, bleeding, or the expulsion of other tissue at the site of the incision
• Pet’s oral or other fixation at the site of the incision, such as licking, chewing or scratching
• Loosening or loss of sutures

Be sure to ask for and review post-operation instructions from your veterinarian before the surgery. Make sure you understand exactly what is expected of you to prepare for your pet’s healthy recovery. Don’t wait until you have a problem to review the instructions and ask questions.

At Day Creek Animal Hospital in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, we are here to keep your pet healthy. We want to help you understand your pet's health issues and any complications. If you need surgery for your pet, we want to help you understand what to do before and after surgery. Call us today at (909) 646-7387 for more information.