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Almost all pets will have at least one anesthetized surgical procedure in their lifetime. It may be when they are tiny for their spay or neuter or they may end up tearing their cruciate ligament or need a couple lumps removed. No matter the procedure, Parker Center Animal Clinic follows the strict surgery guidelines set forth by the American Animal Hospital Association regulating everything from placing an IV catheter for EVERY anesthetic procedure to constant monitoring during the recovery period. We follow these guidelines because we know how important your pet is to your family and therefore to us. We want you to have peace of mind knowing that your pet is in experienced, capable, and caring hands the entire time they are with us.
Before Surgery
After you and your veterinarian have decided that surgery is the best option for your pet, we will perform a pre-operative blood panel to ensure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. We do this the day before surgery to provide us with the best panel possible and also reveals everything from how your pets organs are functioning to how many cells he has. It can also expose any underlying disease that are not yet visible.
Once that blood panel has been evaluated and your pet has been okay’d for surgery, you will bring your pet in the morning of the procedure as scheduled with our receptionists. It is important that your pet does not eat after 8:00 PM the night before and does not have any breakfast or treats that morning. Typically, you can allow your pet to drink water unless told otherwise. Please let us know if your pet is on any medication so we can determine what your pet can have the morning of the procedure.
Day of Surgery
When you arrive you will meet with the certified veterinary technician that will be helping your pet throughout the procedure. You will discuss the procedure and go over any questions or concerns. This technician will be your contact for the day if you want to check in on your pet.
Before undergoing any procedure the surgeon will examine your pet to establish if your pet is still healthy and the confirm that the surgery is still being performed. An IV catheter will be placed, giving us quick access to administer medications for sedation, antibiotics, and fluids that maintains your pets blood pressure.
After Surgery
When your pet is ready for surgery, they will receive a sedative and pain medication prior to anesthesia. Throughout the procedure, your pet will be continuously monitored by a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) dedicated to surgical care. After surgery is complete, a technician will call you with an update on how the procedure went and, based on your pet’s recovery, schedule a pickup time. During recovery, your pet will continue to be closely monitored as they wake up from anesthesia.
Before you arrive for pickup, we will review discharge instructions with you over the phone. When you come to take your pet home, the recovery RVT will go over final home‑care instructions, medications, and activity restrictions in person and answer any remaining questions. This review typically takes 10–15 minutes to ensure you feel comfortable and confident caring for your pet at home. If questions arise after you leave, our team is always happy to help—just give us a call.
