Surgery Information

There is a large amount of information that your Veterinarian will need to know prior to a surgical procedure.  The more we know before the procedure the safer it will be for your pet.
 

1. Vaccine information- THE RABIES VACCINE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.  Therefore if your pet is not current, a Rabies vaccine may be required at the time of surgery

. Vaccinations such as Distemper, Parvo, Corona, Lyme and Bordatella are also important. If these vaccines are not current your veterinarian may want to updated them at the time of surgery.
 

2. Parasite prevention information - An untreated parasitic infection has an effect on a pets WBC (white blood cell) count, specifically it's eosinophils.  The WBC are responsible for fighting off any infections the body may have. The veterinarian will want to know when your pet last had a fecal/stool sample checked for internal parasites.  If a sample has not been checked within the last year you may want your pet checked for parasites at the time of surgery. 
    

3. Heartworm Prevention – Undetected heartworm can restrict the flow of blood to the heart, leading to organ failure.  It may also impede respiratory function (Your pets ability to breath).  Therefore it is important to know if your dog is current on a monthly heartworm preventative and has been routinely tested.  If your pet is not on a heartworm preventative, or is not current on a heartworm test your veterinarian may want to test your dog prior to any anesthesia to minimize the anesthetic risks.
    

4. Feline Leukemia / FIV / HW Test- Feline Leukemia and FIV (Feline AIDS) are highly contagious and positive cats can be more at risk for anesthetic complications due to the fact that the diseases affect the immune system by suppressing a cats natural immune response.  Knowing whether a cat is positive for the diseases can allow your veterinarian to take the necessary precaution to minimize possible risks.  Ask your veterinarian if your pet may be at risk.  If so, a Feline Leukemia /FIV Test should be performed prior to any anesthesia.
    

5. Medical history –  Your Veterinarian will need to know of any current or past history of medical conditions that may be affected or be aggravated by an anesthetic procedure.  (kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, in heat, pregnant, history of  URI [upper respiratory infections], asthmatic, mega-esophagus, heartworm infection, etc.)


 - Current history will need to be known of any injury/trauma or any vomiting, coughing, diarrhea within the last month.
 - history of any allergies or reactions to medications that your pet may have must be known at time of surgery.
 

6. Medications – Due to possible interactions that can occur with anesthetic agents, antibiotic treatment, or pain medications; a list of any and all medications that your pet is currently on and the time the last dose given will be needed at time of surgery. This includes a list of all over the counter medications, vitamins, flea or tick treatments, heartworm preventatives and/or homeopathic agents used.
    

7. Bloodwork – There is always some risk involved when putting any pet under anesthesia.  Bloodwork, that will assess a pet's current health, will be requested and in some cases required.  By doing bloodwork we can check the liver and kidney function, check for diabetes, pancreatitis, infection and anemia among others. 
   - Animals under the age of 7 are recommended to have at least a pre-operative panel and CBC (Complete Blood Count) run prior to anesthesia. 
     - Older animals are required to have a full lab work-up prior to anesthesia.  Tests such as ECG and Chest radiographs (x-rays) to check the heart, Thyroid check, and urinalysis may also be required before anesthesia.  Contact your veterinarian for what tests would be best for your pet.
    

8. Pain management – Your Veterinarian will prescribe pain medication to effectively control the level of discomfort that your pet may experience after the surgical procedure.  It is important to give your pet only what is prescribed by your veterinarian. Many over the counter pain medications can be very harmful, even fatal, to your pets.
    

9. Microchip Identification - Because your pet will be under anesthesia it can be a perfect time to permanently identify your pet with a microchip. If you would like to have your pet identified with a microchip be sure to inform your veterinarian.