PRE-OPERATION INFORMATION
1. No food is permitted after midnight of the night prior to the operation
2. Water can be given until your pet is admitted
3. Dogs should be allowed to urinate/ defaecate before arriving at the surgery
4. Cats must be kept indoors the night before the operation and have access to a litter tray.
5. Small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters etc. should be allowed access to food and water until they are admitted.
At the Surgery
On arriving at the surgery your pet will be admitted by the veterinary surgeon or nurse. You will be asked to sign a consent form for anaesthesia and the procedure to be performed. You will also be asked for a phone number where you can be contacted during the day in case of emergency. If you require an estimate of the cost of the procedure please ask at this point
NB The person signing the consent form must be over 18 years of age.
IF YOU HAVE ANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS OR ARE CONCERNED WITH ANY ASPECT OF YOUR PETS HEALTH BEFORE THE OPERATION PLEASE MENTION THIS TO THE VET.
Collection
It is usually possible for your pet to return home the same day as his/her procedure is carried out. Normally you will be asked to phone the surgery between 2 & 3 pm to arrange a time for collection. We expect that pets that have had routine surgeries will be collected between 4 pm and 5 pm. Pets that have had more major operations or whose after care needs to be discussed with the vet will normally be ready for collection between 4 pm and 6 pm.
The Journey Home
Wherever possible it is advisable to arrange private transport for your pet, even if you only live a short distance away. A secure box or pet carrier MUST be provided for cats & small mammals. Dogs should be on a lead and you may find a old blanket or sheet useful for the back seat of the car.
POST-OPERATION INFORMATION
1. In most cases pets will not be returned home unless they can walk.However they will be a little unsteady and this may take up to 24hrs to disappear. Some pets will cough for a few days due to having had an endotracheal tube to administer the anaesthetic gas
2. There may be clipped areas on the forelegs, this is where the intravenous anaesthetic was given and is no cause for concern.
3. If your pet wants to eat when they get home they may have up to 1/3 of their normal food, DO NOT offer any more than this as it is likely to make them sick. If your pet does not want to eat for the first 24hrs do not force them to. However if they have not eaten within 36hrs please contact the surgery for further advice.
4. If your dog has had surgery he/she should only be exercised on the lead until the sutures are removed. Cats with sutured wounds should be restricted to the house until their sutures are removed.
5. Cats that have had routine spay or castration operations do not need to have sutures removed, all other operations will require sutures removed and/or check up appointments, please ensure that the nurse has arranged these at the time of discharge from the clinc.
6. It is VERY important that your pet does not interfere with the wound. If he/she attempts to do so, please contact the surgery immediately to arrange collection of a Buster Collar.
7. Please check any surgical wounds daily if possible. Many wounds will ooze some serum or blood for up to 24 hrs this is nothing to worry about, if however the wound shows excessive swelling or discharge please contact the surgery.
8. Animals that have had dental extractions may bleed from the mouth for 24 to 48hrs especially when eating hard foods
9. If you are unable to give the prescribed medication please contact the surgery for advice, we may be able to give the medication in a different formulation to ease administration.
10. The Clinic is open for routine enquiries and advice from 9am to 7pm Mon to Fri and 9.30am to 11.30am on Sat, outwith these times please contact Vets Now who will be able to give you advice.
IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT CONCERNING YOUR PETS CONDITION PLEASE CONTACT THE SURGERY FOR ADVICE.