Our team is committed to making sure all of your questions are fully answered when it comes to any surgical procedure for your beloved pet. To help with that, we’ve provided additional information about services you may see listed on your pet’s surgery estimate and/or invoice, with explanations below. We have also included common questions related to the procedure itself and follow-up care after surgery.
*Please note: These responses are general in nature and are not a substitute for specific instructions tailored to your pet. Always follow the guidance provided by your surgical team for pre- and post-operative care.*
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us — we’re always happy to help. Our goal is to support you and your pet every step of the way and ensure the highest level of comfort and care possible.
On your pet's estimates for surgical procedures you may see the following "In House Chem 10 + Lytes + SDMA + CBC"
This is bloodwork that gives us valuable information about your pet’s kidney and liver function, blood cells counts, and other blood parameters like blood glucose. Since anesthetic medications are processed by the liver and/or kidneys, it is important we know how they are functioning prior to your pet’s procedure. The “complete blood cell counts” (aka CBC) gives us information about your pet’s ability to clot their blood, carry oxygen in the bloodstream, and information about your pet’s immune system. This “preoperative bloodwork” is highly recommended for ALL pets that will be undergoing anesthesia; however, we only REQUIRE that bloodwork be run prior to anesthesia for cats and dogs 7 years old or older. If similar bloodwork has been completed within three (3) months prior to surgery, this can be waived.
On your pet's estimates for surgical procedures you may see the following "EKG" or "EKG + ProBNP (Feline)".
An EKG evaluates the electrical activity in your pet’s heart. We use gentle metal clips and a little alcohol to briefly assess your pet’s heart; it doesn’t pinch or hurt them in anyway and provides valuable information about their heart prior to anesthesia. An EKG can identify life-threatening arrhythmias prior to anesthesia, helping us minimize your pet’s risk of anesthetic complications. The more we know ahead of time, the safer we can keep your pet. The “preoperative EKG” is highly recommended for ALL pets that will be undergoing anesthesia; however, we only REQUIRE that an EKG be run prior to anesthesia for cats and dogs 7 years old or older. If the EKG has been performed or your pet has seen a cardiologist within three (3) months prior to surgery, this can be waived.
The proBNP test is an even more specific way to assess how the heart muscle may be functioning. ProBNP levels increase when a cat has heart disease and/or chronically high blood pressure (not just from nervousness at the vet). Some cats with heart disease have normal EKGs, and they can also have normal chest x-rays, so the proBNP blood test is a very valuable screening test for heart disease for cats. This is a blood test done in conjunction with EKGs for our feline patients. It is not available for canine patients.
Unfortunately, medications used in a surgical procedure can make our pets nauseous. The nausea can lead to excessive drooling and vomiting. During a surgical procedure, there is risk for your pet to aspirate (inhale) their vomit into their lungs. We do everything possible to prevent this from happening. All cats, dogs, and ferrets are intubated during anesthetic procedures. Not only does this allow delivery of oxygen and anesthetic gas but intubation also helps to protect their airways. Injectable anti-vomiting medications like Emeprev, Cerenia, and Ondansetron make it much more unlikely that your pet will vomit during and after anesthesia which will make your pet more safe and comfortable.
These are anti-inflammatory injectable pain medications that are given after the procedure to keep your pet comfortable as they wake up from anesthesia. For many canine and feline patients, depending on which surgery or procedure is being performed, another injectable opiod pain medication will also be given such as buprenex, simbadol, hydromorphone, etc. Anti-inflammatory pain medications and opiod medications inhibit pain in different ways which helps to provide added pain relief for your pet in a safe way without increasing your pet’s sedation in any way.
Every pet experiences anesthesia a little differently. We monitor the rate and quality of their heart beats, respirations, blood pressure, and temperature very closely during their anesthetic event. Some pets require some intervention to keep within normal parameters. We will administer atropine to your pet to safely increase their heart rate if they need it at any time. It is very common for a pet to be given this routine medication during anesthesia. If you see it on your invoice, it does not mean that anything went wrong with your pet. We give atropine as a very early intervention so that your pet stays happy and healthy under anesthesia.
Laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that works by applying specific wavelengths of light to stimulate the mitochondria in the cells affected by the surgical procedure. By stimulating the mitochondria, we decrease inflammation and pain as well as accelerate healing. We routinely provide laser treatment to surgical incisions and tooth extraction sites to provide added comfort and to stimulate the healing process. Please note this is not generally done for mass removal procedures.
Yes! All surgical patients are discharged from our hospital on the same day as their procedure. Once your pet’s surgery is complete, a member of our surgical team will call you with an update and to arrange a discharge appointment. Discharge typically takes place one hour or more after the procedure, allowing your pet time to rest and recover as they wake up from anesthesia. In the rare event that your pet requires extended monitoring or additional medical care, and because we are not a 24-hour facility with overnight staffing, we would coordinate a transfer to a trusted emergency or specialty hospital to ensure your pet continues to receive the care they need.
For most routine soft tissue surgeries (spays, neuters, mass removals, etc.) your pet will need to be on an activity restriction for a minimum of 10-14 days. During this time no bathing, grooming, or swimming is allowed. Your pet should also be discouraged from jumping, running or playing as these activities increase the risk of additional swelling and/or infection. Your pet should not be allowed to lick or scratch at their incision sites. More complex procedures (orthopedic procedures, explanatories, etc) may include additional recovery restrictions or plans. Specific recovery plans will be discussed on an individual basis at your pet’s discharge appointment.
We recommend keeping stair use to a minimum for the recovery period following procedures. If stair use is necessary we recommend leash walking or carrying pets to reduce the movement associated. Anesthesia can still affect the body up to 24 hours following surgery, so especially during this time we recommend no unsupervised stair use as pets can still be groggy or off balance. Please refer to you pet’s specific discharge instructions regarding any limitations for stair use.
Most pets do very well after dental extractions and rarely experience lasting complications, even if multiple or all teeth are removed. For the 10–14 days following extractions, your veterinarian may recommend feeding a soft diet instead of kibble, depending on how many teeth were removed. This can be done by offering canned food or by soaking your pet’s regular kibble in warm water for 5–10 minutes before meals. Please follow your pet’s specific discharge instructions, as recommendations may vary.
After recovery, it’s important to continue caring for your pet’s dental health. Regular tooth brushing, dental chews, or supplements such as Perio Support can help maintain oral health. When selecting dental products, look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance or visit www.vohc.org for more information on approved products and dental care guidance.
Recovery suits and e-collars (also called “cones”) help prevent pets from licking or scratching their incisions while they heal. A recovery suit is a full-body garment, similar to a onesie, with adjustable clasps that allow for bathroom breaks without fully removing the suit. For many pets, recovery suits or soft e-collars can be a more comfortable option. However, some procedures — such as eye removal (enucleation) — require the use of a firm e-collar for proper protection.
We offer recovery suits, soft e-collars, and firm e-collars for most procedures. Our goal is to ensure your pet’s recovery is both comfortable and effective. Please feel free to discuss these options with our team during your surgical consultation or pre-operative confirmation call.