Pre & Post Operative Information
At Adelaide Veterinary Centre our priority is the safety and well-being of your pet. If your pet is booked in for a procedure involving an anaesthetic or sedative it is important to follow the guidelines below.
Pre-operative
Prior to admission
Other considerations
Admission
Your pet will be admitted at either 7.30 or 8.45 on the morning of the operation/ procedure. A nurse will go through the consent form as well as going through the procedure with you. Please feel free to ask any questions if there is anything at all you are unsure of. Please allow yourself 15 minutes or so of time to allow for this admission appointment.
Once admitted, your pet will be weighed to ensure accurate drug dosing and then settled into comfortable accommodation whilst they await their operation. Prior to their operation/procedure they will be thoroughly checked by the vet. If having a general anaesthetic they will then be given a premed injection .This contains both a sedative and pain relief, and as well as allowing your pet to be more relaxed will also significantly reduce the amount of anaesthetic required, thus making the anaesthetic much safer.
Post-operatively
Your pet will be carefully monitored after their procedure, and given further pain relief if required.
You will either be given a time to phone or advised that a nurse will call you to let you know how your pet is getting on. An appointment with a nurse or vet will be arranged for the collection of your pet and to discuss the procedure, and post-operative care.
Post operatively there may be sutures and your pet may need to be kept indoors (if a cat) or have restricted exercise (if a dog). You may be asked to make appointments for post-operative checks and sutures out.
We usually advise that you offer your pet some light food e.g. chicken or fish with rice, so you may want to get this in ready before they come home, or you can ask for some tinned special light diet when you collect your pet.
CONTACT US
If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the surgery on 023 8040 6215
Post-operative
Cats & Dogs
Your pet has been anaesthetised or sedated and may still be a little sleepy so keep him/her warm and quiet for the next 24 hrs. You may need to keep young children or other pets away during this time.
Your pet may have a shaved patch on his/her foreleg where an anaesthetic injection was administered. He/she may also have a patch of clipped hair on a surgical site. Do not worry, this hair will regrow within 1-2 months.
He/She may also have a slight cough caused by the placement of a breathing tube during the anaesthetic. If the cough persist for more than two days, please contact us for advice.
You can offer your pet food and water as soon as soon as they return home, unless instructed otherwise. It is best to give a small, light, bland meal such as plain boiled chicken or white fish with rice, or we can supply you with a tinned equivalent if you would prefer. Do not worry if he/she is not very hungry, but you should try and encourage them to drink water little and often.
Sutures
Your pet may have sutures in which case they will either be Sub-dermal sutures (will not be visible and will dissolve) or external sutures in which case they will need an appointment for these to be taken out.
Wound care
If your pet has had surgery please check your pet’s wound daily for any excess swelling, irritation or wound discharge, and contact us if you do see this.
The wound should be kept dry for up to 2 weeks, and your pet should be prevented from licking it. If you think he/she will lick or chew at the wound please ask us for a Buster collar or a special pet onesie to protect the wound.
Bandage Care
If your pet has a bandage please check the dressing twice daily. If there is any damage, moistness, swelling, chafing, discharge, smell or if your pet suddenly become very bothered by the dressing, please report this to us as soon as possible.
It is very important the dressing is kept dry. You can cover the dressing with a plastic bag for walks outside but they must not be left on for long periods of time. Ensure that your pet does not chew the dressing. We can provide Buster collars if you think he/she will chew it.
Exercise restriction
For many procedures we will advise restricting exercise for a period post operatively. You will be advised of this when your pet is discharged.
Bitch Spays/ Dog castrations
Following neutering, male and female dogs can have a tendency to put on weight. We suggest that you may want to try a lighter version of your dog’s normal diet (or one specifically for neutered pets).We also recommend bringing your dog in for regular weight checks with our nurses (they’re free of charge too!)
Concerns
Please contact us on 023 80406215 if you have any concerns at all, or if you notice any of the following:
Excessive swelling of the operation site
Excessive bleeding or discharge
If your pet is not eating normally by the following day
If your pet is generally unwell or off colour
If your pet appears to be in a lot of pain or is very uncomfortable
CONTACT US
If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the surgery on 023 8040 6215