Preparing for surgery
Fasting
Your pet will need to be fasted prior to undergoing sedation or general anaesthesia. You can feed your pet a normal sized dinner up until 9pm the night before the procedure. Pick up your pet’s food bowl after this time to ensure no more food is eaten during the night. We advise to have water freely available overnight, but pick up their water bowl 1-2 hours before leaving home so a large amount isn’t consumed immediately prior to arriving at the clinic. There are occasional exceptions to the fasting rule, such as for very young puppies and kittens. In these cases you will be advised what to do by the vet or veterinary nurse when the procedure is scheduled.
Medication
If your pet is receiving any medications it is important to let staff know so you can be advised when these should be given leading up to sedation or anaesthesia.
Bathing
If your pet is having surgery performed they will not be able to have a bath for 12-14 days after the procedure. Therefore, it is a good idea to give them a bath a day or two prior to surgery.
Pre-anaesthetic Blood Test
Despite using modern anaesthetic drugs and monitoring equipment, all anaesthesia carries possible risks to your pet. These risks are often related to underlying medical conditions that may not be detected on external examination. To better assess your pet’s overall health and to tailor anaesthesia as best as possible we strongly advise pre-anaesthetic blood testing. This blood test can be done quickly and easily on the morning of the procedure. The results can help to identify problems with the liver and kidneys, which are the main organs responsible for clearing anaesthetic drugs from the body. The test can also identify abnormalities in the blood cells that may affect the body’s ability to carry oxygen, fight infection or prevent excessive bleeding. If the test results are normal we can proceed with confidence and also have a good baseline result to compare to if your pet becomes unwell in the future. If abnormalities are detected we may need to alter the anaesthetic procedure or, in some case, postpone the procedure until further investigation or treatment is carried out.
Microchipping
Implanting a microchip is the best way to ensure your pet can be identified and reunited with you should they ever become lost. If your pet is not already microchipped, now is a great time to have it done
Dental Care
During the pre-anaesthetic examination your pet will receive a dental check up which may highlight tooth and gum disease with the need for cleaning or possibly tooth extraction. Under some circumstances we may be able to address these issues while your pet is under anaesthesia. If you have concerns about your pet’s teeth, please discuss this with your vet or veterinary nurse during admission.
Aftercare
Depending on your pet and the particular procedure they have had they may recover differently from anaesthesia and surgery. Some animals will bounce out of the clinic like nothing has happened and others need some extra care and attention to get them fully recovered.
Sedation
Multiple medications are often used for sedation, anaesthesia and pain relief. These drugs can take a number of hours to wear off and your pet is likely to be drowsy the night they return home. Their behaviour should return to normal over the next day or two.
You will notice a shaved patch of fur on one or both front legs where intravenous sedatives and fluids have been given. If there are bandages placed around the legs please remove them within 2 hours of going home.
Your pet may have had a tube placed down their windpipe to deliver oxygen and anaesthetic gas. This is to keep them asleep for long or painful procedures. Occasionally the tube can cause irritation to the throat and your pet may have a couple of mild coughs the night they come home. However, if your pet is coughing continuously or appears to have abnormal or difficult breathing, please contact us or the emergency afterhours service immediately.
Pain Relief
All animals that have undergone surgery will be given appropriate pain relief. In many cases there will be additional medication for you to continue with at home. Please follow all instructions given by the vet or veterinary nurse, including when to start this medication. If you feel your animal is still showing signs of pain, contact the clinic immediately and we can discuss additional options.
Feeding After Anethesia
Unless advised otherwise, your pet can be fed the night they come home from the hospital. Offer a small meal, about half what you would normally feed, to ensure they don’t overdo it. You can return to feeding a normal amount the following day. Some animals won’t want to eat anything the night they come home from hospital which is often due to the effects of sedation. If your pet still isn’t eating by the following day please contact the clinic.
Wound Care
If your pet has had surgery the surgical site will need to be monitored to ensure it is healing as expected. Your pet may have intradermal sutures which are hidden beneath the skin surface and do not need to be removed. Alternatively, there may be external skin sutures that will need to be removed in 10-14 days. In both cases the surgical site needs to be kept clean and dry. If your pet is trying to lick at the area we advise the use of an Elizabethan collar to prevent infection and wound breakdown.
