What is involved in your pet's comfort?
Your pet's comfort and safety is our primary concern. We know that anesthesia and surgery are stressful for both you and your pet. We understand that cost is often a factor in choosing your pet's health care, and want to be sure that you understand how our policies can make a real difference to you and your pet. At our hospital, we do everything we can to minimize every pet's stress or discomfort by using the safest procedures possible.
Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork: We require a blood profile prior to general anesthesia for your pet. This gives us a picture of the general health of your pet and is designed to pick up problems not evident on an external physical examination. If there is some internal problem that may pose a threat to your pet during anesthesia, we want to know about it before the anesthetic is given, not after!
Surgical Anesthetics: We use Isoflurane anesthesia. This gas anesthetic agent is one of the safest, most effective anesthetic available. This means that your pet will have a secured airway by the use of an endotracheal breathing tube. Endotracheal tubes are not used by all hospitals. However, they are very important safety measures here.
Precision Suture Material: We use the best quality suture material available. We use only the finest and most dependable sutures in sizes suitable for your pet. In many cases, we use surgical skin staples or no skin sutures at all.
Intravenous Catheters: Our patients receiving general anesthesia have an intravenous catheter inserted prior to the induction of anesthesia. The catheter also provides access to a vein, should a need for additional medication arise. Through this catheter, your pet will also receive IV fluid support from specialized pumps that deliver precise amounts of fluids and change the rate of flow as needed. Intravenous fluids help maintain blood pressure, provide internal organ support and keep your pet from becoming dehydrated.
Surgical Anesthesia Monitoring: Our operating room is equipped with electronic monitors. We also have highly trained surgical technicians dedicated exclusively to monitoring your pet's anesthesia. While your pet is undergoing anesthesia, we measure body tissue oxygen concentration, pulse rate, blood pressure. We record your pet's electrocardiogram, respiration and body temperature. Our monitors have internal electronic alarms to alert us the moment any change of status occurs.
Post-surgical pain control: Scientific evidence proves that pets experience pain the same way we do. Proper pain control involves not only anesthesia, but additional medications given for the sole purpose of relieving surgical and post-surgical pain. We average four medications for pain for most procedures. We always send home pain medication after surgery.
Heated surgery Blanket: A heated circulating water blanket maintains your pet's body temperature during anesthesia, providing for a safer, quicker and smoother recovery.
Post-surgical Care: Detailed discharge instructions are provided and will be reviewed with you. If your pet has staples, they will be seen 10-14 days after surgery for a followup and to remove them. This allows us to examine the surgical site and your pet's medical progress. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns that arise after discharge.
Do not hesitate to ask questions of us, or any health care provider. You have the right and a responsibility to your pet to know what services are being provided.
Ask other hospitals about post surgical pain control.
Ask if they have blood products on hand.
Ask if they use sterile surgical attire.
Ask if a surgical technician will be monitoring your pet.
Ask if your pet will have an i.v. catheter.
These details may or may not seem important to you, but they are essential to your pet's health. Your pets comfort is very important to our staff.
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