Your pet is scheduled for general anesthesia for a dental procedure. They should not have eaten after midnight the night before (except toy breeds). Surgical patients will receive an exam at no charge the morning of the surgery and if there is anything that may interfere with surgical safety, we will not perform the procedure.

This form is intended to promote a clearer understanding of the process involved in cleaning your pet's teeth and performing an oral evaluation. Please be aware of the following facts:

1. A thorough evaluation of your pet's mouth, teeth, and gums cannot be accomplished without the aid of general anesthesia.

2. Incidental findings, such as tumors and abscessed tooth roots, periodontal (gum) disease, cracked teeth, or Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions (a progressive, destructive disease in cats) are not uncommon.

3. It is frequently necessary to change our treatment plan once the pet is anesthetized.

4. Decisions about how to treat a particular problem are highly dependent on your dedication to follow up care, potential costs involved, aesthetics, and relative anesthetic risk.

5. Certain specialized procedures (i.e. crowns and root canals) are not provided at our facility, but are available through veterinarians that specialize in dentistry. These procedures are usually comparable, or more expensive than the same procedures in people. We can refer you to a veterinary dental specialist for follow up care, if you so desire.

6. Occasionally, a pet's dental disease is so severe that we much stage the dental procedure, performing additional extractions or services at a later date, so that the pet is not under anesthesia for an extended period of time. This reduces risk of complications both during and after the procedure. 

In order to minimize the time that your pet spends under anesthesia, it is important that we know your desires before proceeding. This avoids delays involved with us trying to contact you to discuss your wishes; or worse yet, being unable to contact you at all at a crucial decision-making point. In most cases, we make the decisions based upon our values as if we were treating our own pets.

If you have any questions about the general anticipated degree of dental/oral work anticipated on your pet, please feel free to ask the doctor prior to proceeding.

We perform labwork on all elective and emergency surgeries to screen for underlying disease processes that may interfere with anesthesia and recovery. Additionally, we perform pre-operative EKG (electrocardiogram) reviewed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. This test helps us to screen for underlying concerns for the heart that can't be detected on physical exam. It also helps guide our anesthetic protocol for each patient.

If your pet has not had one or both of these tests performed prior to surgery, it will be done this morning. 

We place IV catheters on all surgical patients. This provides us with access for administration of anesthetic and/or emergency drugs. Additionally, fluid therapy will be administered which helps regulate blood pressure intra-operatively. One or both of your pet's front legs will be shaved in a small area to place the IV catheter. 

I am the owner (or authorized agent) of this animal, authorize and request surgical procedure for him/her. I understand and accept that there are always inherent risks, including death, with any anesthetic procedure. I authorize the clinic staff in an emergency situation to follow through with such procedures as are necessary for the wellbeing of this animal on a continuing basis until further communication with me is possible. I understand that there is additional charge for obesity, inheat animals, lactating animals, pregnant animals, and some dental extractions. I understand that a member of the Parker’s Paws staff will contact me when these charges incur but will not stop the procedure if direct communication is not achieved. I understand payment is due when this animalis discharged. I accept financial responsibility for charges incurred

I understand that Parker’s Paws is a flea free facility and that I will be charged for flea medication anda dose will be applied if evidence of fleas is found on this animal.