What You Need to Know Before 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.

 Are there any pre-surgical instructions?

Yes. Your pet should have no food or water after midnight the night before their procedure. 

Is the anesthetic safe?

Today's modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past.  Here at Thornwood 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. The handout on anesthesia explains this in greater detail.

Pre-anesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia.  Every pet needs blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic.  Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing.  If there is a problem, it is much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications.  Animals that have minor dysfunction will handle the anesthetic better if they receive IV fluids during surgery.  If serious problems are detected, surgery can be postponed until the problem is corrected. Pets with certain medical conditions may require additional tests to determine whether anesthesia is advisable for them. 

Will my pet have stitches?

This depends on the procedure. For the majority, the answer is 'yes'.  If there are skin sutures or staples, these will need to be removed 12 to 14 days after surgery. You will also need to limit your pet's activity level for a time and no baths are allowed until suture/staple removal.

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 symptoms 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. For painful procedures, we will administer pain medication before they wake up, and send home additional medications for the following days. In most cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are sufficient. If a pet seems in excessive pain, additional medications can be given on a case-by-case basis. 

What other decisions do I need to make?

While your pet is under anesthesia, it is the ideal time to perform other minor procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip.  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 pick up your pet after surgery you can also plan to spend about 10 minutes to go over your pet's home care needs.

We will call you the night 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 contact us with any questions about your pet's health or surgery.