PRE-ANESTHETIC BLOODWORK
Our foremost concern is the well being of your pet. A pre-anesthetic physical exam will be performed prior to the procedure to assess the health of your pet. However, some disorders that might affect your pet’s ability to handle the anesthesia adequately may not be readily apparent without blood screening. If your pet has not had Pre-Anesthetic bloodwork during the last four weeks, we will do the bloodwork before starting the Surgical Procedure.
FLEA MANAGEMENT
We assure our facility is and will remain a flea free environment. Therefore, we require the administration of Capstar (24 hour adulticide in pill form) to all pets dropped off for procedures. An additional cost may be added to the cost of the procedure today.
FLUID THERAPY DURING ANESTHESIA
The administration of intravenous fluids during procedures requiring anesthesia are mandatory. It helps maintain adequate blood pressure and perfusion of the tissues. It also provides easy access for intravenous medications, should an emergency arise. The intravenous setup is placing the indwelling catheter and the use of fluid administration. The area on the forearm will be shaved for placement of the catheter.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
As with all surgical procedures, there is a certain amount of pain involved. Our pet’s experience the same pain and discomfort that we, the owners, experience with similar procedures. To help minimize the discomfort for your pet, we administer an injection for pain prior to surgery, which provides the pain relief for up to 24 hours. Pain management will allow your pet to have a lower level of anesthesia, as well as a more comfortable and faster recovery. Certain surgical procedures may require pain medication for a longer period of time. For your pet’s comfort we offer an extended pain control option.
TATTOO
We tattoo all pets that undergo an ovarian hysterectomy or a castration. We follow the guidelines of tattooing a small mark next to the surgical site that is recognized by animal shelters and other veterinarians. This simple procedure is to prevent your pet, should it be lost in the future, from having to go through exploratory surgery to verify that he/she has been sterilized.
ECG (ELECTROCARDIOGRAM)
ECGs are required for senior patients (7 years +) and patients with pre-existing heart conditions. ECG s detect irregular heart rates, arrhythmias, or enlarged hearts. Additionally, ECGs allow the veterinarian to monitor the effects of drugs and medications administered during the procedure, provides valuable information about the depth of anesthesia your pet is under, and determines the level of pain your pet experiences during surgery so appropriate changes can be made.