My pet is due for surgery - what is going to happen?
Surgery usually means that we need 
to admit your pet for a whole day. 
You will need to bring your pet into 
the clinic on the morning of the 
surgery.  We will advise you on 
fasting your pet - usually this means 
no food for 12 hours beforehand.

On admission, your pet will be
examined by one of our veterinary
staff to ensure that the scheduled 
procedure can be per-formed safely.

As a diagnostic tool, we recommend 
carrying out a pre-surgical blood test.
 This test allows us to view the 
functions of internal organs, which in 
many cases can't be assessed 
externally.  Any abnormalities that 
may affect how your pet copes with 
the anaesthetic can then be 
identified.  We will discuss this
option with you.

A pre-surgical sedative will be given 
to our pet in most cases to alleviate 
any apprehension or pain that they 
may suffer.  During this period, your 
pet will be monitored in our hospital 
ward.

General anaesthesia is usually carried 
out by intravenous injection and is 
maintained by gas.  This is the safest 
method of anaesthesia available. 
Your pet's breathing and heartbeat 
are monitored carefully throughout.

The surgical procedure will then be 
performed under sterile conditions 
in our operating theatre.

Recovery is monitored in our hospital 
ward, which allows us to view and
supervise all the post-surgical events.

Our supervising veterinarian or nurse 
will discharge your pet.  They will 
advise you on home care, revisit
requirements and follow-up events.

It is important that any prescribed 
medications be given to your pet 
until the dosage is finished.