At Animal Hospital of Beulah, we understand that it can be frightening to receive the news that a surgery is being recommended. It is important to understand that it is a recommendation that our veterinarian, Dr. Cornett does not take lightly. If he is recommending a surgical procedure, rest assured that it is with the best interest of your pet in mind. It is important to us that you understand the reasons as to why a surgical procedure is being recommended and are able to comfortably make the right decision regarding your pets health.
Surgical procedures fall into two categories where your pet is concerned, elective procedures and those that are urgently necessary.
Most common elective surgery procedures include:
Spay
Neuter
Dental extractions
Benign growth of the skin
Some common urgent care surgical procedures include:
Skin lacerations or abscess
Intestinal obstruction from a foreign body
Internal bleeding
Torn cruciate or ACL ruptures
Fracture repair
Malignant skin tumors
Bladder stones/urethral blockages
Most Surgeries Are Considered To Be Low Risk
There is always some concerns with any surgical procedure , including complications from anesthesia and recovery. However, with the use of modern standard of care practices and the right anesthetic protocol, the risk to your pet is low.
We Follow The Highest Standard Of Veterinary Care
At Animal Hospital of Beulah, we are committed to the highest standards of excellence in veterinary medicine. This is the foundation Dr. Cornett built his practice on. His expertise and unwavering commitment to pet care is what sets our veterinary hospital apart.
Prior to surgery, the veterinary team verifies the the procedure, completes a physical exam of the patient, and reviews any blood tests that have been completed, documented, and reviewed by the veterinarian. These precautions help determine if your pet is at risk for complications while under general anesthesia and the safest way to proceed. Animal Hospital of Beulah highly recommends pre-anesthetic blood work prior to any anesthetic procedure. This can be done any time before the day of the surgery as an outpatient visit or the morning of the big day. In addition to aiding in the prevention of surgical complications, this can give the veterinarian a base line health profile of your pet.
The surgical suite is used for surgical procedures only, and the staff is trained to follow strict protocols to protect patients from infections and cross contamination. A dedicated technician is always present monitoring the vital functions and adjusting the anesthesia as necessary to needs of the patient.
Making The Decision To Proceed With Surgery
Factors to think about when considering pets surgery include:
Age and general health of the pet
Potential complications from surgery
Potential outcome if surgery is not done
Recovery Time and post op care required by the owner
Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation
Dr. Cornett is happy to discuss all of these with you.Although the decision to have your pet undergo surgery your choice, our veterinary team will make sure have all available options, so that you may make an informed decision.
Pre-Surgical Instructions
Pre-surgical instructions vary depending on the type of procedure , and whether or not the surgery is an emergency or planned.
Be sure to follow Dr. Cornett's instructions for feeding and drinking the day before and/or morning of the surgery. Most surgeries are done on a fasting pet. The team will provide you with any special instructions.
Be on time for your surgery. Surgeries are specialized and schedules are set with optimal parameters. Delays potentially threaten the well-being of the tardy pet, as well as the other pets in line.
Listen carefully to post surgical instructions from your veterinary care team and call the hospital if you have any questions regarding the post operative care for your pet.
Recovery from surgery depends upon the of the type and length of surgery, the age of the pet, pain management, and the owner compliance of the post surgical instructions. Some things to be aware of post anesthesia include:
- It is normal for your pet to be groggy or disoriented for a few hours after receiving a general anesthetic.
- Your pet might sleep deeper or longer for 24 hours after receiving anesthesia
- Your pet might be a duller version of itself for 24 hours after anesthesia due to the of anesthesia.
- You might need to help your pet balance during feeding and bathroom breaks for the first 24 hours after surgery.
- Consult with our staff for any feeding and/or comfort tips they can provide depending on what kind of anesthesia was used, and what surgical procedure was performed.
Always remember to call us if you have any questions about your pets recovery.
Post Surgical Care For Pets
For routine procedures, most pets can go home a few hours after waking up from anesthesia. For advanced or emergency procedures, extended stays of 24 hours or longer may be necessary in order to monitor vital signs and deliver critical care.
The post surgical instructions will include the following, please make sure you understand all recovery information.:
- The administering of medications, food and water
- The changing of bandages, cleaning of stitches, etc.
- Assisted care tips
- Follow up appointment scheduling
Always ask questions, the staff is here for you. At home, allow your pet to recover in a warm, quiet space of its choosing (if possible) to increase comfort and reduce stress. For the first 24 hours, monitor your pet closely as it recovers. Always call if you have any concerns. Limit outdoor exposure for at least 24 hours to supervised and if necessary, assisted bathroom breaks. Keep other pets and children away for at least 24 hours, your pet needs time to recover and may not have predictable behavior.
Suture Care (stitches)
Most surgeries will require some sutures; usually these will be internal. Your veterinary staff will review with you the after-care which will include keeping the pets from licking the incision. It may be necessary for the your pet to wear and Elizabethan collar for a few days to prevent licking or chewing.
Monitor the incision for possible signs of infection which will include redness, swelling, or unusual drainage. Continue to follow your pets recovery program as directed.
Scheduling Surgery For Your Pet
If you need to discuss options or schedule a procedure for your pet, please contact us today.
