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Surgery and Anesthesia
In addition to our most commonly performed spay and neuter procedures we also offer a variety of other general soft tissue surgeries, dental procedures including extractions and dental cleanings. Regardless of the procedure planned, we want you to feel informed about your decision and comfortable entrusting us with the care of your beloved companion. Please read below for more information on our surgery and anesthesia protocols.
Before anesthesia: a complete physical examination is required before any pet undergoes an anesthesia or sedation procedure. This appointment is a great opportunity for you to bring forth any questions or concerns you might have about your pet’s procedure and anesthesia. We recommend pre-anesthetic blood work for all patients prior to anesthesia however, an informed discussion with your pet’s veterinarian about his or her individual risk factors may change that plan. For safety reasons, your veterinarian may recommend additional pre-anesthetic tests (i.e. chest x-rays, ECG and/or cardiac ultrasound to assess heart function).
Fasting instructions: We will call or email you the day before to confirm your scheduled drop-off time and to discuss fasting instructions. To reduce the risk of perioperative vomiting or regurgitation it is imperative that your pet arrive at our hospital with an empty stomach on the morning of their procedure. While free access to water is allowed, you will need to withhold food for at least 8-10 hours before surgery.
Please allow for 10-15 minutes on the morning of surgery so we can complete the necessary paperwork for your pet's procedure
Anesthesia: A unique anesthesia plan is created for each individual patient. Every patient under anesthesia is carefully monitored by one of our Registered Veterinary Technologists (RVT). RVTs are trained in all aspects of anesthesia from induction to maintenance and monitoring to recovery. They monitor and record the patient’s vitals while communicating with the veterinarian throughout the procedure to ensure patient safety.
Monitoring equipment: We utilize both Doppler and multiparameter monitoring units to constantly evaluate our patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and blood oxygen levels. But the most important piece of monitoring equipment of all is the experienced eyes and ears of our skilled staff!
Recovery: Each patient’s recovery is monitored as closely as their anesthesia. Once your pet has recovered, a team member will call you with an update, discuss homecare instructions and arrange a discharge time that aligns with each patient’s pace of recovery.
Homecare
Each patient is discharged with a printed, hard copy set of personalized homecare instructions unique to the pet and the procedure. Most procedures will require your pet to rest for a specified period of time following surgery. Please advise a member of our team if you have any questions regarding your pet’s homecare instructions.
Sutures: For most procedures – like spay and neuter surgeries – we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin. These sutures will dissolve on their own and do not need to be removed. Other procedures like wound repairs or biopsies do require surface sutures or staples that will need to be removed later on.
Cones & bodysuits: In an effort to protect surgery sites and allow for proper healing, we typically discharge each patient with a cone or bodysuit. These protective devices must remain in place for 10-14 days following surgery to prevent licking/chewing of the surgery site.
Pain management: We take pain management very seriously at Lighthouse Veterinary. An individualized pain management plan is prepared for each patient. Please speak with a member of our team if at any time you feel that your pet’s pain is not adequately managed following a procedure.
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