Anesthetic Safety

If surgery is suggested, you can feel comfortable knowing that our hospital only administers anesthesia in the utmost safe and cautious manner.

All patients receiving general anesthesia must have pre-surgical blood work and an EKG, which provides a vital check on the health of the patient and determines whether or not they are an appropriate candidate for surgery. Testing allows us to diagnose and treat any previously undetected medical problems.  Additionally, testing may assist us in determining the appropriate anesthetic.  Depending on the urgency of the pet's condition, abnormalities are addressed, drug selections are modified and, in some cases, surgeries may be delayed or even cancelled until your veterinarian is comfortable that the procedure is safe to perform.

Your pet's safety is always our primary concern whenever anesthesia is involved.  Our veterinarians tailor the anesthesia procedure to fit the need of each patient.  All of our surgery patients have an IV catheter in place and receive intravenous fluids throughout the procedure and during the postoperative period.  An IV catheter allows us to administer emergency medications quickly, if needed.  Further, IV fluids help maintain normal blood pressure and keep your pet well hydrated.  Your pet's vital signs, including blood pressure, oxygen level in the blood, heart rate, respiratory rate, carbon dioxide level, body temperature, and pain, are monitored during general anesthesia and continuously throughout the surgical process.

We use advanced pain management techniques in conjunction with anesthesia to make sure your pet is as comfortable as possible during the procedure and after they are discharged.  Most surgery patients receive two or three different kinds of injectable medications during the procedure and go home with oral pain medication. We perform local anesthesia blocks any time an incision is made and we perform oral nerve blocks if teeth are removed during a dental procedure.  We use constant rate IV infusions of pain medication for more severe pain.  We also treat any surgical site with a therapeutic laser to reduce inflammation and speed up healing time.  We tailor the pain management plan to the needs of the patient.

For additional information, please visit our Surgeries and Before Your Pet's Surgery: FAQ's pages.

Please call us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your pet's health and/or care.

Contact us today to make your pet's appointment!  (480) 893-0533