What to Expect for Your Initial Surgery Consultation
Your primary or referring veterinarian has recommended that a surgeon be involved in the care of your pet. A surgery consult may be to get a second opinion, obtain more information, or discuss surgery options. We understand that you may be concerned about the process that you and your pet are about to undertake.
At your initial visit, you will meet one of our board certified surgeons, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). At this visit they will meet with you and your pet. The surgeon will review the records available and may recommend additional tests if indicated to make the best decisions moving forward. This visit is very important to spend the time to ask questions and discuss an appropriate and customized treatment plan for the very best results for your pet.
Please make a list of all medications/supplements that you give your pet. Please list the name, dose, frequency given, and how much you currently have left of the medication. This is very important to make sure we don’t use a medication that may interact adversely with other medications. We can also provide refills if needed.
Days Leading Up to Surgery
Start by preparing your house for activity restrictions; getting a crate/pen, carpet runners, sling, harness, E-collar (we can provide one for you for an additional cost). You may bathe your pet 2-3+ days prior to surgery. Do not bathe your pet less than 48 hours before surgery as this can affect the normal bacteria on the skin. If your pet has an active skin infection this will need to be addressed prior to surgery. Sometimes surgery may be postponed if we see an active infection at the site of the incision after shaving the fur. If your pet has been on a non steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) like Rimadyl/Carprofen/Vetprofen, Novox, Previcox, Deramaxx, Metacam/meloxicam, Galliprant, etc.), please discontinue these medications at least 3 days prior to the surgery date as this may increase bleeding during surgery.
The night before surgery hold food and water after 10pm. You may offer small amounts of water the morning of surgery. Give medications previously recommended unless otherwise specified. If your pet becomes anxious when visiting the veterinarian, please discuss this with the surgeon. We may recommend a “Calming Protocol” to help your pet feel more comfortable.
The Day of Surgery
If you have seen any changes in your pets health it is very important to tell us, surgery can always be rescheduled if there are any concerns. Things that can be of concern include vomiting, diarrhea, your pet accidentally ate the morning of surgery, or if there are any other concerns you may have.
If your pet is on a special diet, please bring the food with you along with any medications (please list the medication doses, frequency, and when was the last dose given). We have plenty of comfy dog beds and blankets for your pet however, if you would like to bring a special blanket or comfort-item please feel free to do so but we cannot guarantee loss or damage of these items. Please label any items you bring with your pet’s name.
After Surgery
Outpatient surgery means your pet will go home the same day of surgery. When this happens they may still be groggy or not themselves. This is ok but it means they need to be monitored carefully. They should be supervised in a cool and safe environment. If your pet stays the night and goes home the following day, they are likely to be more like themselves but should still be kept in a cool and safe environment.
Typically most patients should be kept in a small area or large crate to keep activity at a minimum. This will aide in the healing process and is usually recommended for the first 2 weeks for soft tissues and skin to heal. Most orthopedic cases will require strict rest for the first month and likely up to 8 weeks, this is the length of time bone takes to heal. Specific activity restrictions will be given in your homecares at discharge.
Follow-up Visits
Typically a 10-14 day recheck to check the skin/incision is recommended. This does not need to happen with a surgeon specifically. Typically with orthopedic cases bone healing is monitored with x-rays every 3-4 weeks if indicated or concerned. A final recheck around 8 weeks (when most adult dogs bones have healed) is a really important recheck for x-rays for final approval to return to normal activity.
