No matter how much the cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens. - Abraham Lincoln
Answering Questions About Pet Surgical Services
Ten West Bird and Animal Hospital offers a state-of-the-art surgical suite, providing for a wide variety of surgical procedures. We combine the safest available anesthetics with the most modern equipment and monitoring for added safety, especially for our older or high-risk patients. From spays and neuters to more complex surgical procedures, we give our best to each patient: quality care, state-of-the-art equipment, and humane treatment.
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?
Every surgical patient at Ten West Bird and Animal Hospital receives the most advanced care techniques in veterinary medicine including:
- A comprehensive, pre-operative examination
- Modern, safe anesthesia
- An IV with fluids
- One of three levels of pre-operative blood work
- Warm forced-air blanket to maintain body temperature
- Dedicated staff before, during, and after surgery to ensure your pet’s safety
Dr. Powers combines modern anesthetics, pre-anesthetic blood testing, and comprehensive physical exams with careful monitoring by trained staff and state-of-the-art monitoring equipment to ensure your pet’s safety.
Modern anesthetics are safer than those used in the past. For their own safety, every surgery patient is required to have some level of blood testing, and at Ten West Bird and Animal Hospital, we perform a thorough physical examination of your pet before administering anesthetics to ensure that infection or illness won’t be a problem. In fact, all surgery patients receive an IV catheter and fluids to support and protect the body’s vital functions. We 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, and it is much better to find out before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications. Animals that have minor dysfunction will handle the anesthetic better if they receive IV fluids during surgery. If serious problems are detected, surgery can be postponed until the problem is corrected.
We offer three levels of in-house blood testing before surgery. We prefer the more comprehensive screen because it gives the most information to ensure the safety of your pet. For geriatric or ill pets, additional blood tests, electrocardiograms, or X-rays may also be required before surgery.
It is important that surgery be performed on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. Withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery. Water may be given until the morning of surgery.
Will my pet have stitches?
For many surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin. These will dissolve and do not need to be removed later. Some surgeries, especially tumor removals, do require skin stitches. With either type of suture, monitor the incision for swelling or discharge. While most animals do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, this is an occasional problem as well. If there are skin sutures, these will be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. Limit your pet’s activity level for a time, and do not bathe your pet for 10 days after surgery.
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 as people do — they usually don’t whine or cry — but they certainly feel pain. Pain medications will depend on the surgery performed. Major procedures such as bone surgery require more pain relief than minor lacerations, for example.
For dogs we may recommend an oral anti-inflammatory for several days after surgery to lessen the risk of discomfort and swelling. We use newer medications that are less likely to cause stomach upset and can even be given the morning of surgery.
Because cats do not tolerate standard pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen, we are limited in treatment options. Recent advances in pain medication now allow for better pain control in cats. We administer a pain injection 10 minutes prior to surgery. After surgery, additional pain medication may be given.
Certain procedures may call for hospitalizing your dog or cat the day before to begin administering pain medication up to 12 hours before the actual procedure.
Injectable pain medications may also be used after surgery on both dogs and cats. Any animal that appears to be suffering will receive additional pain medication.
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 dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip. Please call us in advance to discuss the addition of these extra services.
When you arrive for surgery, expect to fill out paperwork and make decisions on blood testing and other options available. When you pick up your pet after surgery, we will explain 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 or concerns about your pet’s health or surgery. Also visit our FAQs page for brief answers to many common questions.