What do I need to do before my pets surgery?
Dogs and cats: No Food from 8 pm the night before the procedure. It is important that your pet is fasted prior to surgery to reduce the risk of vomiting during their anaesthetic which can cause aspiration pneumonia. It is ok for your pet to have water with them overnight. Please take this away first thing on the morning of surgery.
Please make sure cats are kept indoors the night before surgery so that they cannot get access to any food.
Before bringing your dog in please take them for a short walk to allow them to toilet.
Pocket Pets: Please do not fast rabbits and guinea pigs. They have a high metabolic rate and it is important for them to maintain a healthy gut which requires a regular source of food and water. It is a good idea to send them in on the day of surgery with a selection of their favourite food that we will offer them once they have fully recovered from the anaesthetic. Ferrets only require 4 hours fasting so it is fine for them to have food and water overnight. Please take it away first thing in the morning. It is also a good idea to bring them in with their favourite food and we will offer them something to eat after recovery.
Admission:
Please bring your pet in between 8:00am-9:30am for a surgical admission with one of our nurses. This may take 10-15minutes as the nurse goes through the admission process with you. This will include an updated weigh in on the scales, Pre-Anaesthetic health check, confirmation questions about your pets health and the procedure to be done that day, contact number for you to be reached while your pet is with us and your signature on the surgical admission form. During admission we will discuss with you the option for pre-anaesthetic blood testing if this has not already been done. Pre-Anaesthetic bloods can be important in planning your pets anaesthetic protocol. We are mainly looking at the liver and kidney function that is vital for your pet in coping with an anaesthetic. While this is beneficial to any patient it is strongly recommended for all senior pets.
Estimates:
If not already provided an estimate will be given at the time of admission. While we strive to estimate as accurately as possible it is not always possible to know every detail depending on the procedure. Payment is due at the time of discharge. If you are paying online or by another method than cash or Eftpos please let the receptionist know at the time of admission.
Your pets surgery:
Most of our scheduled procedures are performed between 12:00pm-4:00pm. This may change depending on the day and type of procedure being performed. Dental procedures are usually performed after the other major and sterile procedures have been completed.
Recovery and Discharge:
Once your pet is in recovery we will give you a call to let you know how they are going and to organize a discharge time. Every anaesthetic recovery is different and some may take a little longer than others (or they may just enjoy being cuddled up with the blankets and hotties napping).
Most patients are ready to go home between 3:30pm-5:30pm. Some cases will require a discharge appointment with a vet to discuss results or aftercare however most routine discharges will be with one of our nurses where they will go through detailed at home aftercare instructions with you, including suture care, medications, confinement/return to exercise plan and post op checkups (no charge), etc. If your pet has sutures or a wound we will likely recommend purchasing a Elizabethan collar to prevent your pet from licking.
(If at any time during the day you would like to get an update on your pet please don’t hesitate to call. We are always happy to talk to you and let you know how they are going and pass on an extra cuddle from you.)