Dear Client,

Your pet has been scheduled for surgery in the near future. In our attempt to assist clients, we have assembled this packet to make surgery day as easy and stress-free as possible. In addition to this letter, you will find that the following information has been enclosed:

1. Day of Surgery Owner’s Information

2. Surgical Information  

3. Consent Form (found at the end of this information - please scroll down to sign)

Please read carefully all the enclosed information. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us.

On your pet’s surgery day, we require you to review and sign a Surgery/Anesthesia Consent Form in which you acknowledge understanding of this surgical information packet.

We require a phone number(s) where you can be reached on surgery day so that if questions arise our staff is able to contact you. Please make sure you are accessible all day at the number(s) you provide.

The night before your pet’s surgery…

• Withhold all food and treats after 9:00pm.

• Water may be left down overnight but should be withheld after 7am the morning of surgery.

• If you are currently administering any medications, vitamins and/or injections, withhold the morning doses unless otherwise instructed by the doctor.

Please make arrangements for your pet to be dropped off on the morning of scheduled surgery, and allow 10-15 minutes for a veterinary technician to meet with you to discuss your pet’s surgery and answer any questions/concerns you may have. Once your pet is in our care, a veterinary technician will escort your pet to the surgical/treatment area where our veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet before he/she is prepped for their procedure.

You are welcome to check on your pet’s status, however, we request that you allow plenty of time for your pet’s procedure to be done. Once the surgical procedure is complete and your pet is in stable condition in the recovery unit, the veterinarian will call you personally to discuss the procedure and will be able to give you an idea when your pet may be discharged. When you arrive to take your pet home, you will be escorted into an exam room and a veterinary technician will go over discharge information and instruction with you verbally and hand you a written copy. Once your questions and/or concerns have been addressed by the technician or veterinarian, the receptionist will take payment and schedule any post-surgical progress exam appointments or suture removal your pet may need. If you do not understand the instructions, please do not hesitate to ask.

We hope surgery day will be a pleasant experience. Remember, our team knows surgery can be an anxious time and we are always available to answer any and all questions concerning the upcoming procedure.

Important Information Regarding Your Pet’s Surgery PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.

Anesthetic Procedures & Risks

We use a combination of pre-anesthetic medications/injectable and/or inhalant anesthetics to achieve optimum levels of anesthesia that are safe for your pet.

Please understand that no surgical procedure is risk free. Risks may include, but are not limited to, anesthetic death, infection and if applicable implant failure, delayed healing, and persistent lameness. If you have any questions regarding the risks of this procedure and expected outcome please feel free to discuss it with us prior to surgery. 

For most procedures, your pet is anesthetized and then intubated (insertion of a tube into the trachea or wind-pipe). This will ensure that your pet is able to receive oxygen and a gas anesthetic at all times and prevents aspiration of any fluids into the lungs.

For procedures that require minimum sedation, an injectable anesthetic is given that produces a good plane of sedation with quick recovery. This allows us to have more control over anesthetic depth and it is less irritating to the airways.

Pre-Anesthetic Blood Testing

We require that a Pre-Anesthetic Blood Profile be performed on all pets’ undergoing anesthesia to maximize patient safety. This essential testing helps alert our surgeon to the presence of dehydration, anemia, infection, diabetes and/or kidney or liver disease that could complicate the procedure. These conditions may not be detected without a pre-anesthetic profile thus not allowing for the most appropriate and safest anesthetic regime to be administered. These tests are similar to those your own physician would run if you were to undergo anesthesia. In addition, these tests may be useful if your pet’s health changes to develop faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments.

*State of the art equipment enables us to perform the pre-anesthetic blood profile at our hospital and we are committed to making this technology available to our patients.

Monitoring & Pain Management

Monitoring of patients during anesthesia is done in two ways. First, a veterinary technician is with your pet continuously from beginning of anesthesia through recovery.

Second, our doctors and technician will use a computerized monitor that records heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen levels, respiration rate, ECG; temperature. After surgery your pet is monitored in a recovery unit with warm blankets.

Our clinic strongly believes in compassionate, quality, medical care for our patients. As a result, all surgery patients will receive pain management before, during and after surgery. Additionally, pain medication may be prescribed to take home. Additional information will be given at discharge. We hope this program will reduce any discomfort experienced and aid in a quicker recovery.

Intravenous Catheterization & Fluids

We require the placement of an IV catheter and use of IV fluids during all general anesthetic procedures. This allows us to have quick, available access to the circulatory system (blood) in case of an unforeseen emergency. The fluids also help provide support to the circulatory system by maintaining blood pressure and preventing dehydration, as well as aid in a quicker recovery from anesthesia.

Potential Surgical Complications

1. Feline/Canine Spay

Bleeding, Infection, Recurrent Heat, Urinary Incontinence, Weight Gain, Suture Reactions

2. Feline/Canine Castration

Bleeding, Infection, Testicular Swelling, Suture Reactions

3. Feline Declaw

Bleeding, Infection, Limping/Lameness, Regrowth of Nail

4. Tumor/Lump Removal

Bleeding, Infection, Swelling and Drainage, Suture Reaction

We realize surgery and anesthesia can be an anxious time for both the owner and patient and we attempt to make surgery day as safe and comfortable for all involved. The physical examination and blood work done prior to any surgical procedure allows us to best minimize anesthetic and surgical risks and maximize patient safety. If you have any questions or hesitations about the scheduled procedure, please do not hesitate to call us to discuss any aspect of the upcoming procedure.

I have read and understand the surgical information provided to me regarding my pet's surgery and the potential risks/complications that may be associated with surgery and anesthesia. I authorize the use of appropriate anesthetics and medications as deemed necessary for the treatment of my pet.

By signing this document, I assume full financial responsibility for all charges incurred relating to my pet's treatment and care. I understand that payment in full is due at the time of my pet's discharge from the hospital and my pet's surgery/hospitalization may require a deposit.