What To Know When Dog Surgery Has Been Recommended
At Metairie Small Animal Hospital, we understand that it can be frightening to receive the news that a dog surgery is being recommended. It is important to understand that it is a recommendation that our veterinarians do not take lightly. If one of our veterinarians is recommending a surgical procedure, rest assured that it is with the best interest of your dog in mind. It is important to us that you understand the reasons as to why a surgical procedure is being recommended and are able to comfortably make the right decisions regarding your dog's health.
Canine surgical procedures fall into two categories where your dog is concerned, elective procedures and those that are urgently necessary.
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Video Transcript:
I'm Dr. Meredith Addison at Metairie Small Animal Hospital, and I'm going to be answering some general questions about surgery so families are more comfortable, and they know what to expect when your dog comes in for a surgery.
The first question that we usually get asked is, who will be performing the surgery? The veterinarian that has suggested that your animal have surgery is typically the one who will be doing the procedure. Rarely, we will have another veterinarian who is more specialized in the procedure come in and actually perform the surgery if that is needed.
About pre-anesthetic blood work. I would recommend doing pre anesthetic blood work so we can make sure that your pet is healthy. That will also give us an idea of if we need to change the anesthetic protocol to fit your animal.
For most routine surgeries, we do placing IB catheter in the dog's leg. We will also use medication to put your dog under a comfortable anesthetic plane. When we are intubating, we actually use a tube that will go in your dog's mouth, and that's how we will give a gas inhalant to keep your patient in a comfortable and aesthetic plane for our procedure.
Another common question that we get is, how is my dog going to be monitored during the procedure? For each dog, we have a monitor that is attached to the patient and that's how we will keep up with heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure. We also have a dedicated assistant to each patient, and that assistant will be taking heart rate, respiratory rate, as well as temperature on each dog to ensure that they are doing well during the procedure.
Another question that we get is post-op pain management. After each procedure, we will give a pain medication if the procedure warrants it. We also will sometimes send owners home with pain medication to administer at home, as well as antibiotics, that way we can make sure that your pet is as comfortable as possible following the procedure.
Depending on your dog's procedure, we will sometimes recommend that your dog stay overnight with us here at the hospital. This will ensure that we're able to monitor your dog around the clock and make sure that we don't have any post-op complications.
The last question I'm going to answer is about post-op stitches that the patient may go home with. Some procedures will result in your animal having stitches outside of their body that you can see. Your dog can typically not break down these stitches, so we will actually remove them in 10 to 14 days after surgery.
Some dogs will try to lick at their incision; therefore they will need to go home with a cone or an e-collar to keep them from licking at their incision site.
I hope I was able to clear up some common questions about dog surgery for you. When you're ready to schedule your procedure, just give us a call.
Most common elective dog surgery procedures include:
- Spay
- Neuter
- Dental extractions
- Benign growths of the skin
Some common urgent care surgical procedures include:
- Skin lacerations or abscess
- Intestinal obstruction from a foreign body
- Internal bleeding
- Torn cruciate or ACL ruptures
- Fracture repair
- Malignant skin tumors
- Bladder stones/urethral blockages
- Spleen cancer
Most Dog Surgeries Are Considered To Be Low Risk
Surgery always carries with it numerous concerns ranging from potential complications to prognosis for recovery. However, because veterinary medicine has progressed to encompass all modern considerations, the risks are very low to your dog having any major complications from most surgeries.
We Follow The Highest Standards Of Veterinary Care
At Metairie Small Animal Hospital, we are committed to the highest standards of excellence in Veterinary medicine. This commitment to excellent care is why we are an American Animal Hospital Association Accredited veterinary clinic. This accreditation is awarded to only the top 12% of veterinary hospitals in the nation. Surgical protocols at AAHA-accredited clinics include:
- Pre-surgical assessments. Prior to surgery, the veterinary team verifies the specifics of the procedure; completes a physical exam of the patient; and ensures blood tests have been completed, documented, and reviewed by the veterinarian. Among other things, these precautions help determine if your pet is at risk for complications while under general anesthesia.
- Dedicated surgical suites. To prevent post-surgical infections and cross-contamination, surgeries are performed in a room used only for sterile surgical procedures.
- Surgical attire. Staff must wear disposable caps and masks when entering the surgical suite. Anyone involved in the procedure itself must also wear sterile gowns and single-use gloves.
- Sterile packs and equipment. Surgical instruments are carefully cleaned, sterilized, and wrapped prior to each procedure to help prevent infections.
*https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/about_aaha/why_accreditation_matters/abou...
Making The Decision To Proceed With Dog Surgery
The decision to do surgery involves a discussion with the owner about possible complications and all factors to be considered when deciding what is best for your dog. Factors to think about when considering dog surgery include:
- Age and general health of the dog
- Potential complications from the surgery
- Potential outcome if surgery is not done
- Recovery Time and post op care required by the owner
- Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation
Although the decision to have your dog undergo surgery is ultimately up to you, our veterinary team will present you with all the facts and possible outcomes to help you make an informed, ethical and compassionate decision that is in the best interest of both you and your loyal canine friend.
Dog Pre-Surgical Instructions
Dog pre-surgical instructions vary depending on the type of procedure being performed, and whether or not the dog surgery is emergency or planned. However, we will provide you with a set of dog pre-surgical instructions that can be used as a general guideline for preoperative preparations:
- Follow your vet's recommendations for feeding and drinking the day before and/or morning of the surgery
- Most surgeries are done on a fasted dog. In general, you will be asked to not feed your dog after midnight the night before the procedure
- Most dogs are allowed to drink until the morning of the surgery
- Be on time for your canine surgery, as most veterinarians schedule surgeries very tightly, and delays potentially threaten the wellbeing of the tardy dog, as well as the other dogs in line
- Listen carefully to post surgical instruction from your veterinary care team and call hospital if you have any questions regarding the post op care for your dog
Dog Anesthesia
At Metairie Small Animal Hospital, we adhere to very stringent guidelines for administering dog anesthesia before, during and if necessary, after surgery. These guidelines come from the American Animal Hospital Association, a veterinary organization that only accredits approximately 12% of all veterinary practices nationwide. For example, the AAHA guidelines require that we first do blood work, and then depending upon your dog's overall health, other tests to ensure there is not an overt risk of complications from receiving dog anesthesia.
Dog anesthesia is extremely safe when the patients are stabilized before the procedure and all effort is made to have a good understanding of the dog's medical condition before surgery. There is always some risk to anesthesia, however, the risk is extremely low when being performed by a highly qualified veterinarian and surgical team.
Recovery from surgery depends upon the length of the surgery, the age of the dog and the amount of pain medication required to keep your dog free from any post operative pain. Some things to be aware of post anesthesia include:
- It is normal for your dog to be groggy or disoriented for a few hours after receiving a general anesthetic
- Your dog might sleep deeper or longer for 24 hours after receiving dog anesthesia
- Your dog might be a duller version of itself for 24 hours after anesthesia due to the dulling effects of anesthesia
- You might need to help your dog balance during feeding and bathroom breaks for the first 24 hours after surgery
- Consult your veterinarian for any feeding and/or comfort tips they can provide depending on what kind of dog anesthesia was used, and what surgical procedure was performed
Always remember to call us if you have any questions about your dog's recovery
Post Surgical Care For Dogs
Just like dog pre-surgery instructions, dog surgery recovery protocols and care vary depending on the type of procedure performed, and whether or not the surgery was an emergency. However, we will provide you with a set of dog surgery recovery instructions that can be used as a general guideline for postoperative care:
- If you are leaving your dog during surgery, make sure you know when you should return for pickup
- For routine procedures, most dogs can go home a few hours after waking up from anesthesia
- For advanced or emergency procedures, extended stays of 24 hours or longer may be necessary in order to monitor vital signs and deliver critical care
- If you did not do so beforehand, make sure to receive and understand all recovery information, including:
- The administering of medication, food and water
- The changing of bandages, cleaning of stitches, etc.
- Assisted care tips
- Follow up appointment scheduling
- At home, allow your dog to recover in a warm, quiet space of its choosing (if possible) to increase comfort and reduce stress
- For the first 24 hours, monitor your dog closely as it recovers. Always call if you have any concerns
- Limit outdoor exposure for at least 24 hours to supervised and if necessary, assisted bathroom breaks
- Consult your veterinarian for more information on the necessity and duration of limited or restricted outdoor exposure
- Suture care (stitches): Most surgeries will require some sutures. Your veterinary staff will review you the after-care which will include keeping the dogs from licking the incision.
- Most dogs will be sent home with an Elizabethan Collar to ensure they do not lick or bite out the sutures
- Monitor the incision for possible signs of infection which will include redness or swelling
- Continue to follow your dog's recovery program until told to alter or discontinue it by your veterinarian
Scheduling Surgery For Your Dog
If you need to discuss surgical options, or schedule surgery for your dog, please contact us today. Our veterinary staff are highly experienced and caring dog people who are happy to help ease the stress and fear associated with dog surgery for you and your canine friend alike.