Pet Surgery
No matter if your pet is a dog or cat, they will likely need surgery at least once in their lifetime, most commonly to be neutered or spayed.
Pet Surgery in Benbrook, TX
Understanding what happens after you bring in your pet for surgery can help you feel less anxious and be more prepared to ask any questions.
Pet Surgery
Before surgery, we recommend blood tests will evaluate your pet for underlying health problems. These blood tests include a mini-chemistry profile. If a pet is older than seven years of age, we will also recommend performing a complete blood count. The exact type of tests our veterinarian recommends will vary, depending on your pet’s age, species, any previous health problems, and the type of surgery. For all dogs and cats, we withhold food from your pet the night before surgery after 10 p.m. Food is withheld so that if the pet vomits while under sedation, the pet is less likely to vomit food, which could be aspirated into the lungs.
On the day of surgery, a physical examination will be performed, and your pet will be prepared for surgery. An intravenous catheter will be placed for the delivery of IV anesthetic medication as well as fluids during the procedure. Your pet will usually be given a sedative at this point, which will help calm and relax them, followed by an intravenous anesthetic and a gas anesthetic. An endotracheal tube will be placed to protect the airway and administer the gas anesthetic that will keep your pet unconscious during the procedure. Heart, pulse, and ECG monitor to ensure your pet is doing well during surgery. All pets are placed on a specially heated pad to keep them warm during the procedure. Once the surgery is over, the anesthesia is stopped, and the pet can wake up in a quiet area where they can be monitored until it can move around safely on their own.