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?

Today's modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past.  Here at Hayes Barton Animal Hospital, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics, to ensure that a fever or other illness won't be a problem.  We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet.

Pre-anesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risks associated with anesthesia.  Every pet has blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic and that the blood is clotting properly.  Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing.  If there is a problem, it is, of course, much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications. If problems are detected, surgery can be postponed until the patient's condition has improved.

It is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia.  You will need to withhold food for at least 12 hours before surgery.  Water can be available until the morning of surgery.

Will my pet have stitches?

Almost all surgical procedures require sutures, but they are not always visible. Even when you cannot see the sutures, it is very important keep an eye on the incision area for redness, swelling, or discharge.  Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at their incision, but this is an occasional problem you will also need to watch for.  If there are external sutures, these will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery.  You will also need to limit your pet's activity level and not bathe him or her 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 signs of pain as people do; they usually don't whine or cry, but you can be sure they feel it.  Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed.  Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations.

We generally prescribe an oral anti-inflammatory after surgery to lessen the risk of discomfort and swelling.  We use modern medications which are less likely to cause GI upset.

Providing the appropriate pain medication is not only compassionate, it also speeds the healing process.

What other decisions do I need to make?

There are other services to consider having done when your pet will be under anesthesia, such as dental cleanings or implanting a microchip for identification.  If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time.  This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet's care.

When you bring your pet in for surgery we will need 10 to 15 minutes to fill out paperwork and talk with you about the procedure.  When you pick up your pet after surgery you should also plan to spend about 15 minutes to go over your pet's home care needs.

We will call you the business 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 about your pet's health or surgery.