Surgery & dentistry for your pet

Things to know about surgery and dentistry for your pet

No one like the thought of their pet undergoing surgery but there are certain problems and routine procedures, which require surgical intervention. Do not be concerned. There have been many recent advances in veterinary medicine and surgery. Diagnostics, anaesthesia, monitoring and surgical techniques have been developed to help ensure your pets recovery.

Pre surgical testing

Pre- operative testing is often recommended to help us uncover any problems not readily apparent. These tests may include blood tests (blood cell count and blood chemistry), urinalysis, X-rays and electrocardiogram. Any abnormalities detected may need to be corrected prior to surgery or may merely indicate a change in the choice of anaesthetic of pre-surgical treatment. In this way we can minimise surgical and anaesthetic risk. Your veterinary surgeon will advise what testing may be appropriate for your pet.

Standards of quality

We use many of the same anaesthetic agents that are used in human surgery. Surgery is performed with highest standards of sterility and your pet’s heart, lung and other vita functions are closely monitored. We may recommend intravenous catheterisation and fluid therapy for some patients. A decision is made for each individual patient usually after the results of any pre-anaesthetic blood tests are available. These represent our normal protocols, we seek to provide high standards of quality veterinary care and will not lower them for and reason.

Pre surgical instructions

 Please give no food after 8pm before surgery and take water away one- hour before admission. No treats and no cheating! An empty stomach is critical for safe anaesthesia. DO NOT HOWEVER restrict food or fluids for rabbits and other small mammals.

 If your pet is taking medication, give the normal dosage at the usual times unless otherwise directed. If your pet is diabetic, please ask the veterinary surgeon for special instructions.

 Surgical patients are admitted to the practice between 8:00 am and 9:00 am on the day of surgery.

Allow your pet to exercise and time to empty bowel and bladder before being admitted unless otherwise instructed.

Types of anaesthetics used

Your veterinary surgeon will determine which anaesthetic is best for your pet and for the procedure being performed. Some short procedures are conducted under short acting anaesthetics injected into the muscle or vein. Longer procedures are carried out under gas anaesthesia, which is delivered through a tube placed in the windpipe. We now normally use propofol and isoflurane, which are considered the best possible and safest anaesthetic agents for animals. This results in less stress on the heart, kidneys and liver and allows very accurate adjustments to anaesthetic levels. Consequently your pet will wake up more quickly and smoothly after surgery or dentistry. Because of its superior safety features, isoflurane is especially beneficial if your pet is old, ill of debilitated or is an exotic species.

Other considerations

When your pet is undergoing anaesthesia for one procedure it is worth considering whether the opportunity should be taken to carry out any other procedure. If there is any degree of dental disease and if circumstances permit, the veterinary surgeon might advise that the appropriate dental treatment should be attended to at the same time. When large breeds that are prone to hip dysplasia are neutered we may otherwise survey X-rays of the hips. For all animals this is a good time to have your pet permanently identified by the implantation of a microchip to allow identification if he or she is ever lost of stolen. You should be provided with a written estimate of the expected fees and other charges that will be incurred. You may request your bill-to- date at any point during your pets stay.

Finally

Be prepared to spend a few minutes with the veterinary surgeon of the veterinary nurse on the morning of admission. A Pre-surgical examination will be performed, pre-anaesthetic laboratory work will be discussed and there will be an opportunity for any last minute instructions to be communicated to the surgeon. A pre-anaesthetic sedation is normally given shortly after admission. We really do want you to understand what we are doing and why. If you have any questions about our procedures of your pet’s condition, please don’t hesitate to ask.

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