Services/Surgical Information
Pre operative instructions
This information is to help you and your pet prepare for a visit to the surgery for an anaesthetic and surgical procedure.
If your pet is scheduled to have an anaesthetic or sedation please read the following information.
Where possible one of our nurses will email you in the day or two before admission, to provide information and an estimate, and show you our consent form. An admission appointment will be made for the morning of the procedure.
Dogs and Cats
- It is important your dog or cat is fasted, and in most cases please ensure you remove any food by 10pm the night before admission. This includes treats. Young puppies and some breeds will have different instructions
- Your pet should have access to water overnight and in the morning.
- Cats should be kept indoors with a litter tray the night before admission to ensure they have not been hunting overnight.
- Please take your dog for a short walk on the morning of admission to allow them to empty their bladder and bowels.
- We ask that dogs arrive for any surgical procedure clean and dry.
- If your pet has been unwell or their condition has deteriorated prior to admission, please let us know.
- Your pet will be admitted at a set appointment time where one of our friendly nurses will go over a consent form. They will be able to discuss the procedure, answer any questions you may have and will confirm the contact details for you that day.
Rabbits and Small Mammals
- Please ensure food and water are available at all times before admission. It would also be helpful if you could bring some of your pets favourite food with them on the day of the surgery.
- If your pet has been unwell or their condition has deteriorated prior to admission please let us know
- Your pet will be admitted at a set appointment time on the day of the procedure where one of our friendly nurses will go over a consent form. They will discuss the procedure, be able to answer any questions you may have and confirm the contact details for you that day.
Anaesthetics
Your pet may be having a sedation or an anaesthetic. All anaesthetics and sedations carry a small amount of risk. This is increased in very old, very young or ill patients. It is the surgeon’s/anaesthetist’s job to minimise this risk as much as possible. A preoperative blood test prior to anaesthesia helps the surgeon assess the function of important organs like the liver and kidneys and also helps pick up any early signs of disease, such as diabetes. Whilst this is advantageous in any pet, we especially recommend a blood test in patients over eight years of age. This can be performed the morning of your pet’s procedure.
Post operative information
Coats vs Collars
Following surgery your pet may need something to ensure they do not lick their wound and stitches. We recommend post op coats following many of our operations as they are very well tolerated by our patients. In some instances a plastic collar may be the preferred option. This will be discussed at your admit appointment.
(Please see the photo above of ‘Rufus' in his medical pet suit with members of our team)
Going home
We will normally arrange a discharge appointment time when we admit your pet. If this has not been arranged, please contact the surgery on 01856 872859 after 2.30pm to confirm a discharge time.
At your pet’s discharge appointment the veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse will discuss how your pet has been throughout their stay, give you information regarding their procedure, any wound, feeding, exercise or medication advice and let you know when your pet’s next check-up is due. Written care instructions will also be provided.