Pre-operative information
The following is a guide to help you prepare for your pet’s operation. Please read it carefully. If you have any further questions please contact the surgery during office hours for advice.
It is important that your pet has an empty stomach when undergoing a general anaesthetic or sedation. Please do not give any food after 7pm the evening before admittance. Water can be available at all times.
Cats must be kept indoors overnight with a litter tray. Dogs should be walked prior to admittance, to allow then to empty their bladder and bowels.
Please arrive between 8.30 and 9.00 on the morning of the operation. Please telephone the surgery if you may be late.
Please inform us of any vomiting, diarrhoea or coughing at the time of admittance, as this may require a vet to check over your pet before it is admitted. Please let us know if your pet is currently on medication and when their last dose was.
You will be asked to sign a consent form, giving us permission to perform the operation. You will be asked if you would like pre-operative blood samples, and intra-operative fluids – more information is provided below. Please ask for a written estimate at this time if required.
If your pet is inclined to be nervous or aggressive, please let us know so appropriate care can be taken.
Special note for rabbits – rabbits do not need to be starved before an operation and should be allowed to eat and drink as normal. To aid rapid recovery, please bring along a small bag of their normal food to eat after the operation, particularly their favourite nibbles, and their usual drinking container.
Anaesthesia
With modern anaesthetic drugs and good monitoring, general anaesthetics in healthy animals carry a low risk. The standard procedure is that after pre-medication, anaesthesia is induced by the use of an intravenous injection. A small patch of hair on the front leg will be clipped to allow this injection. A tube is passed down the windpipe, to provide oxygen and anaesthetic gases. The area around the operation site will be clipped to allow thorough aseptic cleaning. To minimise the risks involved with anaesthesia, there are a few optional extras available, detailed below.
Anaesthetic Optional Extras
You will be asked at admission if you would like your pet to have these.
- Pre-anaesthetic blood test – this test provides us with vital information on your pet's internal organs, in particular the liver and kidneys. There are times when the liver and kidneys of dogs and cats may not work as well as they should, even if they appear well at home. If your pet has a pre-existing problem and has an anaesthetic, this may further compromise your pet’s internal organs. By performing a blood test we are able to identify those animals at greater risk of complications during the anaesthetic and to use additional supportive measures to reduce this risk. There are benefits to any animal getting checked before an anaesthetic, but we strongly recommend it for any animal over the age of 7 years. There will be a charge for this blood test.
- Intra-operative fluids (a drip) – by putting your pet on a drip they will recover from the anaesthetic more quickly and feel brighter. Intravenous fluids help the body to eliminate the anaesthetic agents more rapidly, by maintaining blood pressure and blood flow to kidneys. Intra-operative fluids are recommended for any animal undergoing an anaesthetic. There will be a charge for intra-operative fluids.
Payment
Full payment is due when you collect your pet, and can be made by cash, cheque or credit card.
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