Your pet has been scheduled for surgery in the near future with us. In our attempt to assist clients, and provide you clear communication on what is involved, we ask you review this important information to ensure your surgical check in, the day of surgery, and the post-op period is as easy and stress-free as possible for you and your pet.

Please read carefully all of the information, as it answers most of the common questions we get from owners.  We like you to be fully informed of your pet's big surgery day. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us.

You should have already received a Treatment Plan that includes expected cost for your pet at the time of your pet's exam.  On that treatment plan is an expiration date at the top. If surgery is performed after that date we may request an updated exam (exam fees may apply) to be sure your pet's condition has not significantly changed. We will review the Treatment Plan and cost again at your pet's Check-In.

Prior to your pet's surgery day we will need you to complete the following consent forms with all required information. If you have not completed this Pre-Surgical Check-In within 24 hours of your pet's surgery it may be cancelled and need to be rescheduled.  

We require a good phone number(s) where you can be reached on the day of surgery. Failure to be reached on the day and time of the procedure may result in postponement of treatments we find your pet needs at the time of surgery. 

The Night Before {petsName}’s Surgery

Please withhold food and treats after 9:00pm. Do not withhold water, it should be kept available for {petsName}. If your pet has been given medications for anxiety or temperament, give the first dose in the evening if prescribed.

The Day of Surgery

If {petsName} has been prescribed medications for anxiety or temperament, be sure to give the morning dose 2 hours before your expected arrival time if at all possible.

If {petsName} is currently taking any medications for other conditions, give those medications as you normally do unless you have otherwise been instructed by the doctor. You may give a small treat if needed to give any needed medications, but remeber don't feed {petsName} a full meal. If by chance your pet has accidently had a morning meal, please let us know at check-in. 

Plan for {petsName} to be dropped off on the morning of scheduled surgery day between 7:30 and 9:00 am.  It is important you Check-in prior to 9:00 am.  After 9:00 am staff are focused on helping with the surgical procedures and may not be avialable to complete check-in. If you are late you may have to re-schedule your pet's procedure.  If we have several patients arrive at the same time, we will need some time to get you checked in, so your patience is appreciated. You will check in at our Surgical Center on the side of the building. ( Signs should be posted. )

The person checking in the pet MUST be able to make medical and payment decisions.  They must be an authorized user on the client account.  We cannot be responsible for miscommunications between clients not with their pet at the time of check-in.  We expect clients to communicate clearly with their family, spouses, and partners that are not present at Check-In.  If you want to know information about your pet's surgery, we ask you be present at the time of check-in and discharge. 

Our veterinary nurse will escort you and your pet to an exam room to complete the Check-In and to go over {petsName}'s Treatment Plan for the day.

After checking in, our team will collect samples for any elected blood tests and get them running in our In-House lab. If any concerns arise, a team member or doctor may contact you at the contact number you provide. They will also give oral pain medications and get things ready for your pet's surgery.  

You are welcome to check up on {petsName}’s status at any time, however, keep in mind our doctors plan the order of surgeries based on how to get all the work done in the timeliest manner. The order that pets are checked in IS NOT the order that surgeries are performed. In general, the less complicated, shorter procedures are done first, followed by the more complicated longer procedures. Surgeries that require an overnight stay with us are the last to be performed.

As surgeries are done our team will send several text messages to you. Texts are sent to the Primary Cell number we have on file. It is important you not opt out of text from our office so you can receive these text messages and reminders. The first text message will be sent when the procedure has been completed, and a second will have a link to {petsName}'s discharge instructions. Please look over the discharge link prior to pick up so our team can answer any questions you have at discharge.

When you arrive to pick your pet up, the receptionist will bill you out and the assistant team will go over all discharge orders verbally. There will also likely be a web address on your paperwork for the discharges if you need it to review again. If you do not understand any instructions, please do not hesitate to ask our staff to go over them one more time. If you have any questions, please let us know, we want you to have all the information you need for your pet.

We hope surgery day will be a pleasant experience. Our team knows surgery can be an anxious time for you and {petsName} and we are available to answer any and all questions concerning the upcoming procedure.

We look forward to serving you and your pet on the upcoming surgery day and for years to come.

Our utmost priority is the well-being of {petsName}. Before proceeding with anesthesia, we routinely conduct a brief surgical physical examination to ensure that your pet remains a suitable candidate for the procedure.

We strongly recommend, and in some cases require, Blood Profiles for pets undergoing anesthesia. These profiles serve to alert our doctors to potential issues such as dehydration, anemia, infection, diabetes, or kidney and liver diseases that could complicate {petsName} anethetic recovery. These conditions might not be apparent without blood test. While our protocols are generally safe for most conditions, adjustments may be necessary based on blood testing to guarantee the safest anesthetic regimen.

Furthermore, these tests can prove valuable if your pet's health status changes or deteriorates later on. Establishing baseline blood values through these results provides a reference point for future comparisons.

Our in-house lab enables us to perform blood profiles on the morning of {pet's name}'s surgery, ensuring the most up-to-date information on your pet's health is available on the same day.

Chemistry Profiles:
These profiles examine blood chemicals and assist us in assessing the functioning of major organs, particularly the liver and kidneys. Given their role in metabolizing the injectable drugs we administer, any decrease in liver and kidney function requires additional care during and after surgery.

CBC:
This test allows us to evaluate red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, helping identify anemia, infections, or clotting issues in your pet. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) is a fundamental measurement of red blood cells to check for anemia.

Clotting Profiles:
These profiles determine your pet's ability to stop bleeding by measuring key clotting factors. They are essential for assessing the safety of surgery and are mandatory for certain breeds, specific health conditions, a history of clotting concerns, or advanced surgical procedures. If clotting profiles are part of your pet's surgical plan, they are not optional.

Testing May Be Performed After Sedation/Pre-Anesthetic:
While we prefer to collect and run blood work before anesthesia induction, some pets may not allow it. To minimize stress for {pet's name}, we may need to collect blood samples after sedation or pre-anesthetic medications. Despite the tests being conducted post-sedation, the information gathered still guides informed decisions regarding your pet's medical and surgical needs.

Types of Anesthesia

We use a combination of pre-anesthetic medications with injectable and/or inhalant anesthetics to achieve optimum Balanced Anesthesia for your pet. As part of a balanced anesthetic approach we have a focus on providing the best pain management we can provide, before, during, and after the procedure. With these combinations of drugs we can use lower doses of each drug.  This helps reduce the risk of anesthetic complications. 

For most procedures {petsName} will receive oral or injectable NSAID pain medication shortly after they check-in.  This helps ensure the medication is on board and working when it's time for surgery.  If your pet is taking a daily NSAID, or other pain medications, and you gave the morning dose, please let us know.   

For short or common procedures or for budget cases, a combination of medications are used to provide Total Injectable Anesthetic.  This type of anesthesia produces a good plane of surgical anesthesia with a quick recovery. Oxygen will be supplemented if needed by an anesthetic mask. 

For longer procedures, your pet is provided a combination of pre-medicatons and then intubated (insertion of a tube into the trachea or windpipe). This will ensure that your pet is able to receive oxygen at all times and reduce the risk of aspiration of any fluids into the lungs. Inhalent anesthesia is then used to maintian your pet's anesthesia until the procedure is completed.

For some pets that are intubated they may experence a cough after the procedure.  Often this cough starts with a few days after the procedure.  Intubation can cause damage to small hairs in the trachea (cilia), and some inflammation of the tracheal lining. This impedes the function of the Mucociliary Escalator mechanism of the trachea.  These hairs move mucus and debris, normal to the lungs, up and out.  The cough typically improves within a few days and is of no major concern.  This is often mistaken as "Kennel Cough" and blamed for the fact they were in a hospital. This is seldom the true cause of the cough for pets that where recently intubated for surgery.  If the cough does not improve or resolve within 48-72 hours, becomes productive, or your pet seems bothered by it, please inform us so that we can arrange a recheck exam. 

Patient Monitoring

Monitoring of patients during anesthesia is done in several ways.

First, physical observation by our tained surgical team of {petsName}'s heart rate, respiratory rates, level of anesthesia, and temperature.  Our doctors and assistants are with your pet continuously from beginning of anesthesia to recovery. 

Second, we have numerous types of electronic monitors that track heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen levels, respiration, ECG, and temperature. Electronic monitoring is a great tool, but it does not replace physical observation of your pet. 

Post Surgical Pain Management

Our clinic strongly believes in compassionate, quality, medical care, for our patients. To live up to that mission, all surgery patients will receive pain management before, during, and after surgery. Additionally, pain medication will be prescribed to be given at home. With good pain management your pet will recover and heal faster from surgery. Be sure to give all NSAID drugs provided until they are gone, even if your pet does not seem painful.  The anti-inflammatory will reduce swelling at the surgical sites and improve healing. 

Intravenous Catheterization & Fluids

We highly recommend the placement of an IV catheter and use of IV fluids during longer anesthetic procedures. This allows us to have quick, available access to the circulatory system (blood) in case of an unforeseen emergency. The fluids help provide support to the circulatory system and prevent dehydration, as well as aid in a quicker recovery from anesthesia. Our doctors will include catheters and/or fluid for appropriate surgical plans.  For some short procedures an intravenous catheter may not be required. You will have the option to include them if you wish.  

Anesthetic Risk

It is important for you to understand that there is always a risk of anesthetic and surgical complications anytime these procedures are performed. We strive to provide the highest quality care of your pet and take all precautions, you allow, to avoid potential problems. In general, the risks are far outweighed by the benefits of the procedures we agree to perform. 

Reasons for Orthopedic Surgery in Pets

Pets may undergo orthopedic surgery for various reasons, with the primary goal being to repair any injury, alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance their overall quality of life. Here's a brief description of why pets might need orthopedic surgery and the potential benefits:Trauma and

Fractures: Pets may experience traumatic injuries, such as fractures or dislocations, often resulting from accidents or falls.

Congenital Conditions: Some pets are born with orthopedic conditions, such as hip dysplasia or luxating patellas, which may require surgical intervention for correction.

Joint Diseases: Arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases can cause chronic pain and decreased mobility. Surgery may be recommended to address these conditions and slow down their progression.

Orthopedic Tumors: Tumors affecting bones or joints may necessitate surgical removal to prevent spread and alleviate pain.

Cruciate Ligament Rupture: A very common issue in dogs, a torn cruciate ligament can lead to instability and pain in the knee joint, often requiring surgical stabilization.

Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joint, can cause pain and difficulty in movement. Surgical procedures like hip replacement may be performed to improve joint function.

Benefits of Orthopedic Surgery in Pets

Pain Relief: One of the primary goals of orthopedic surgery is to alleviate pain, improving the pet's comfort and overall well-being.

Improved Mobility: Surgical interventions can enhance joint stability and function, allowing pets to move more freely and engage in normal activities.

Prevention of Further Damage: Surgery can prevent the progression of orthopedic conditions, reducing the risk of secondary issues and improving long-term outcomes.

Enhanced Quality of Life: By addressing orthopedic issues, surgery can significantly enhance a pet's quality of life, allowing them to enjoy a more active and pain-free existence.

Faster Recovery: While recovery time varies, surgical interventions can offer a more rapid improvement in the pet's condition compared to conservative management alone.

Correction of Congenital Abnormalities: Orthopedic surgery can correct congenital abnormalities, addressing the root cause of certain conditions and preventing further complications.

It's important for pet owners to work closely with their veterinarians to understand the specific needs of their pets, the potential benefits of surgery, and the associated risks. Postoperative care, including rehabilitation and follow-up appointments, plays a crucial role in ensuring a successful recovery.

Possible Complcations of Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic surgery in pets, just like in humans, can be associated with various complications. It's important to note that the occurrence of complications can depend on the specific procedure, the overall health of the pet, and compliance with post operative instructions. Common surgical complications in orthopedic surgery for pets may include:

Infection: Surgical sites can become infected. Antibiotics are often prescribed postoperatively to minimize this risk. The most common cause of infections is allowing the pet to lick and chew at the incision after surgery.

Delayed Healing: Some pets may experience delayed wound healing, especially if they have underlying health issues or if the surgical site is under excessive stress.

Implant Complications: In surgeries involving implants, such as plates, screws, or joint replacements, complications can include implant failure, loosening, or migration.  This is often the result of the pet allowed to be too active, or unsupervised after surgery.  Folowing our intrustions regarding your pets allowed activity after surgery is critial to reduce the risk of implant issues.  With time though, the screws may also become loose as the bone remodels around the threads.  So implants may come loose months or years after they are placed. Micromotion in the implants may also cause them to fatigue and break.  Broken screws and implants will only need removed if they are casusing issues.    

Incision Dehiscence: Until the incision is healed it coming apart is possible. There are typically several layers of tissue closed, but if the pet is allowed to chew and lick at the incision they can open the wound through all layers. Also, if the pet is allowed to be too active and allowed to run and play to agressively after surgery they can break the sutures allowing the wound to open. Its critical you rest your pet after surgery and not allow them to lick and chew at the incision.

Pain Management Issues: Inadequate pain management can lead to discomfort and delayed recovery. It's essential to provide appropriate pain relief measures postoperatively.

Swelling and Bruising: Swelling and bruising are common after surgery but excessive or prolonged swelling may indicate a problem, such as a hematoma or seroma.

Nerve Damage: Nerve damage can occur during surgery, leading to issues such as weakness, paralysis, or altered sensation in the affected limb.

Blood Clot Formation: Blood clots can form after orthopedic surgery, especially in pets that are not mobile postoperatively. Clots can lead to a host of complications depending on its severity.

Anesthetic Complications: Though really rare, due to the overall safety of the aneshteticcs we use in veterinary medicine, adverse reactions to anesthesia can occur, including respiratory or cardiovascular arrest. Proper monitoring and care during anesthesia help to minimize these risks, but we can never 100% elimate the risk.

Complications Specific to Procedure: Different orthopedic procedures have specific complications associated with them. For example, joint surgeries may be at risk for complications like joint instability or arthritis.

Reactive Changes in Other Limbs: Pets may alter their gait or put excessive stress on other limbs, leading to secondary issues in non-operated areas. 

Postoperative Inflammation: Excessive inflammation at the surgical site can impede healing and cause discomfort.

It's important for pet owners to follow postoperative care instructions provided by the veterinarian, including administering medications, restricting activity, and scheduling follow-up appointments. Regular check-ups and prompt communication with the veterinarian can help identify and address any complications early in the recovery process.

CPR Consent

CPR in pets, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is an emergency lifesaving technique designed with the goal to attempt to revive a pet in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest, which is when the heart, lungs, or both have stopped working and responding properly.  This procedure involves a series of chest compressions rescue breathing, and emergency medication administration mimicking the principles of human CPR.

CPR is only performed in emergency situations where your pet has stopped breathing or their heartbeat has ceased. 

Possible Complicaitons & Outcomes of CPR in Pets

While pet CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) can be a life-saving measure in emergency situations, there are potential complications and risks associated with the procedure. It's important to note that pet CPR should only be administered by individuals who have received proper training.

No Guarantee of Outcome: While pet CPR can be effective in certain situations, there is no guarantee of success. The outcome may vary based on the underlying cause of the emergency and the timeliness of intervention. Generally, the chances of successful CPR are higher when it is administered promptly. However, even with timely and appropriate intervention, the success rate may not be as high as one might hope, and the overall prognosis may depend on the specific circumstances.

Internal Injuries: The forceful chest compressions involved in CPR may lead to internal injuries, such as broken ribs or damage to internal organs, such as the lungs or heart. This risk is particularly higher in smaller or fragile animals.

Aspiration: If rescue breaths are administered too forcefully or incorrectly, there is a risk of air entering the stomach instead of the lungs, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia.

Ineffectiveness: The effectiveness of CPR can vary based on the underlying cause of the emergency, the time elapsed since cardiac or respiratory arrest, and the individual characteristics of the pet. CPR may not always be successful in restoring normal function.  Even if heart rates and breathing is resotored, there may be no or long lasting effects of brain damage casued by lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain. 

Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions: For pets with certain pre-existing health conditions, CPR might exacerbate their condition or complicate their recovery.

Lack of Response: In most cases, pets may not respond positively to CPR, and the intervention may not result in the restoration of vital signs.

Stress and Anxiety: The process of administering CPR can be stressful for both the person performing it and the pet. Stress and anxiety may further complicate the resuscitation process.

Understanding the potential complications and limitations of pet CPR is essential for making informed decisions in emergency scenarios.

Deposit & Financial Responsibility Policy

I agree to pay any required deposit of the estimated fees prior to treatments beginning and assume financial responsibility for the balance of all services rendered either by cash, accepted electronic payment card, Care Credit, or Scratch Pay at the time {petsName} is discharged from the hospital.  I understand hospital financial policy does not allow billing, and I will be able to clear the balance at the time of my pet’s dismissal.

Communication 

In the event {petsName} is hospitalized for more than 48 hours, and your attending doctor is unable to reach you, you understand it is your responsibility to call the hospital at least every 24 hours, during business hours, to inquire as to the medical status of your pet and the fees incurred for medical services up to that day. 

Overnight Supervision

Though most our surgeries will go home the same day, some of the more complicated or emergency surgeries, or those performed in the afternoon will be asked to recover one evening maybe more with us.  Typically, these pets are stable, and this so pet is allowed to rest without being excessive disturbed as they recover with the benefit of pain medications.  Occasionaly we may ask you transfer your pet to overnight care if they are critical or unstable. 

You understand no staff is on premise to observe {petsName} continuously after hours, and you have the option to transfer your pet to the care of a overnight or a 24 hour facility at any time.  If you elect to not transfer to a overnight or 24 hour care facility, you understand and accept all additional risk that may involve in not having continuous observation of my pet. 

Pet Abandonment Policy.

You further agree that you, or an authorized agent of yours, will pick up {petsName} and pay for all accrued charges once you receive text, email, written, or oral notification that your pet is ready to be released from our hospital.  If not picked up as informed, all appropriate boarding and hospitalization fees will apply.  Such notice will be given via text, and email maintained on the hospital's patient/client record. If {petsName} has not been picked up with in 48 hours past the defined discharge time {petsName} will be considered abandoned by you.

You agree that if you fail to comply with this policy PREMIER VETCARE may handle this abandonment in the best interest of the animal and the hospital. You are a aware and understand pet abandoment is also against Tennesses Code, and the abandoment may be reported to Rutherford County PAWS.

For the Unexpected Findings

You understand that the Treatment Plan for {petsName} that has been provided, or will be provided at check-in, was made with the current information available to the staff and veterinarians of Premier VetCare based on {petsName}’s history, past physical exams, and testing at the time that plan was created or revised.  After treatments have begun, new information and findings might identify other concerns that may require medical or surgical attention.  Although no one likes surprises, you understand it’s sometimes impossible to give a complete accounting of cost before treatments begin. 

From a financial standpoint, it is much more economical to complete all needed treatments/procedures during the initial procedure and sedation/ anesthesia rather than having to schedule another appointment with additional sedation /anesthesia and the assocaited cost.  You understand that those additional treatments will change the cost of the current treatment plan.  In the event that additional services may be needed, you may indicate below how you would like the doctors and staff of Premier VetCare to proceed with treatments.

Fees for Post Operative Complications

Despite our best efforts, occasionally a pet will open or infect the incisions. This is nearly always due to excessive licking, chewing, or activity. Surgical complications are ALWAYS POSSIBLE with any procedure. Please contact us or return your pet anytime you are concerned about complications. Post-op recheck exams are performed at no charge for anything determined to be related to surgery, but the client is responsible for any and all additional surgery, medications, and materials needed to treat the pet as a result of any complications occurring after surgery.

E-collar Is Recommened

For most pets we recommend you purchase an E-Collar. These helps restrict your pet's ability to lick and chew at the stiches. We are not responsible for surgical sites that come open or infected after the pet leaves our hospital. Fees apply to re-suture any open wounds or needed antibiotics. When used properly an E-Collar can reduce the risk of your pet causing damage to the sutures and reopen the wound.

Phone and Contact Info

Being able to communicate with you or your agent during your pets procedure or treatment may be neccessary, please provide us the best phone numbers to reach you in the event we need to.  

We will send you updates on {petsName} when they are in recovery, as well as discharge times, and home care instructions via text messages. Text messages are the best way to have all the information you need. Please inform us at check in if you do not want updates and discharge information by text messages.  

Treatment or Surgery Consent 

I, {yourName} , or owner's agent, of the pet identified above, {petsName}, certify that I am over eighteen years of age, and thereby consent to the examination of my pet by staff veterinarian(s) at PREMIER VETCARE, and after consultation with me, to prescribe medication for, treat, hospitalize, anesthetize and/or perform surgery on my animal.  I understand that some risks always exist with all medications, vaccines, anesthesia and/or surgery, including unknown physical abnormalities, medication allergies, surgical complications, internal bleeding, shock, incision dehiscence, and post-surgical infections, and that I have been encouraged to discuss any concerns I have about those risks with the staff or if needed the attending veterinarian before the procedure is initiated.

I also certify that I have been provided an treatment plan that includes the expected costs for veterinary services that includes, but not limited to, diagonstic test, blood sample collection, surgery, administration of medicaiton, and/ other treatments that will be preformed for {petsName}. I have discussed all fees attendant to such care before services are rendered and during my pet's ongoing medical or surgical treatment. 

I also certify I have had the opportunity to ask any and all questions I may have regarding any diagnosits test, medical treatments, or surgical treatments that have been or are to be performed for {petsName}.