What to Expect on Surgery Day: A Guide to Your Pet’s Safe and Comfortable Experience

At Animal Medical Center, we understand that surgery day can be a stressful time for pet owners. Whether your pet is scheduled for a spay, neuter, or another surgical procedure, we want to ensure you feel informed and confident about what to expect. Our team is committed to providing the highest standard of care, utilizing the safest techniques, advanced monitoring, and comprehensive pain management to ensure a smooth surgery and a faster recovery for your pet.

Before Surgery: Preparing Your Pet

To ensure the best possible outcome, we provide detailed pre-surgical instructions, including:

• Fasting:  To reduce the risk of complications under anesthesia, your pet should not eat after midnight the night before surgery.

• Medications: If your pet takes regular medications, please discuss with our team whether they should be given on the morning of surgery.

• Arrival Time: Our team will schedule a check-in time in the morning. This allows us to perform a thorough pre-anesthetic examination to ensure your pet is healthy enough for surgery.

During Surgery: Advanced Safety and Monitoring

Your pet’s safety is our top priority. During the procedure, we use:

• Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork: This helps us assess organ function and identify any underlying conditions that may affect anesthesia.

• IV Fluids: Providing IV fluids helps maintain blood pressure, hydration, and supports overall organ function during surgery.

• Anesthetic Monitoring: Our skilled veterinary nurses continuously monitor heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and temperature to ensure stability.

• Pain Management: We use a combination of local anesthetics, injectable pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory medications to keep your pet comfortable.

After Surgery: Recovery and Post-Operative Care

Once the procedure is complete, your pet will be carefully monitored in our recovery area. We ensure a smooth and comfortable wake-up process, using warm air blankets, cozy fleece blankets and gentle reassurance.

When you pick up your pet, we will provide detailed post-operative instructions, including:

• Pain Medications: Your pet will go home with appropriate pain relief to ensure a comfortable recovery.

• Activity Restrictions: Limiting activity helps prevent complications such as incision opening or swelling.

• Incision Care: Checking the surgical site daily for signs of redness, swelling, or discharge is essential.

• Follow-Up Appointments: We schedule a post-operative check to ensure healing is progressing smoothly.

Your Pet’s Comfort and Well-Being Matter to Us

At Animal Medical Center, we take every precaution to make surgery as safe, comfortable, and stress-free as possible for both pets and their owners. Our compassionate team is always available to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the recovery process.

If you have any concerns about your pet’s upcoming surgery, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to support you every step of the way, ensuring the best care for your furry family member!