Surgery / Procedure - Important information - Admittance 8 - 9.30am

This is a confirmation that your pet has been booked in for treatment and / or a surgical procedure and may involve a general anesthesia.

How to prepare:

Fasting

Please withhold food from 8pm the night before the procedure. This is a safety precaution as regurgitation of stomach contents during an anaesthetic can increase the risk of pneumonia and oesophageal complications. Please take water away first thing on the morning of the procedure and make sure they don’t have access to any food. For cats, this generally means they should be kept inside the night before their procedure.

If your pet accidentally gets access to food, please inform the veterinary staff immediately to avoid any serious complications.

Admission

Unless you have been given a specific pre-operative appointment time with a veterinarian, please bring your pet in between 8.00 – 9.30am.

They will be admitted by one of the nursing staff and you will be asked to sign an anaesthetic or surgical consent form if you have not already completed an electronic form. Keep in mind that we are busy at this time, and you should allow 20 minutes for the admittance process to be completed. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to ask. You may be required to arrange a discharge appointment (see discharge below).

Bathing

As your pet will require strict rest for 14 days following the procedure, it is recommended that you bathe your pet (dogs) beforehand as you will not be able to wash them during the recovery period.

Vaccinations

For the protection of all patients, we expect all pets to be up-to-date with their vaccinations.

Before Arriving at the Clinic

For your pet’s safety, it is essential that they do not eat from the night prior to the scheduled visit.
Walk your pet (dog) prior to the appointment to ensure they can eliminate urine or feces normally. Allow your cat access to its litter tray.
Arrive with your pet on a leash or in a carrier for their safety.
Be aware that your pet may be put under anesthesia and will be required to remain in hospital until they have fully recovered.
If you are a new client to us, and your pet has a medical history at another vet, we ask that you organise your pet's history to be emailed to info@brunkerroadvets.com.au before your pet 's surgery date.

Heartworm and Fleas

If your dog is not on heartworm prevention we also recommend a heartworm test. Heartworm infection increases the risk of anaesthetic complications.

If fleas are found on your pet a Capstar Tablet will be administered on admission. Capstar is a safe, inexpensive, effective flea treatment. Fleas can increase the chances of surgical infections.

The procedure

Our surgical / hospital procedures are perfomed between 10am and 5pm. The order is determined on the day. Please call our reception if you have not heard from us by 5pm.

Potential risks

There are risks associated with any procedure and general anesthesia.

Here are some risks to be aware of:

General anesthesia complications such as hypothermia, low blood pressure, vomiting or death
Surgical complications such as internal bleeding.
Breakage of sutures internally or externally.
Excessive swelling.
Excessive external bleeding.

Pre Anaesthetic Blood Test

On the consent form there is an option for a pre anaesthetic blood test. This test checks kidney and liver function that is important for coping with an anaesthetic. If this test is normal then the vet will go ahead with the procedure. If the test is abnormal the vet may wish to contact you to discuss if additional treatment is required. This test can be beneficial in any animal but we strongly recommend it in any animal over 8 years of age.

Anaesthesia

Most surgical procedures will recieve intravenous (i/v) fluids during their surgery to ensure appropriate blood pressure is maintained and assist recovery.

Post-surgery

Your pet may be hospitalised overnight after the surgery, however, most animals are able to go home between 5pm & 6.30pm. We will contact you once your pet is in recovery and organise a suitable discharge time. For routine procedures, a nurse will generally discharge your pet. For non-routine procedures the vet may wish to speak with you. In these instances, at the time of admission, the receptionist may ask if we can arrange a discharge appointment time. At discharge you will be offered an Elizabethan Collar to prevent your pet from interfering with the surgical site. This is something we strongly recommend for all animals. You will be asked to settle the account at the time of discharge.

What to expect after surgery:

Grogginess. Your pet has been given a general anaesthesia and / or a sedative. These drugs can take a number of hours to wear off and may cause some patients to appear drowsy for a day or so.
Decreased appetite for 24-48 hours.
Decreased bowel movements for 1-2 days after coming home.
Mild bruising and discomfort a day after surgery.
Mild cough 2-3 days after surgery from the anesthetic tube causing a small amount of irritation to the throat.
Mild clipper rash at the surgery site.

Home care

Following surgery, you will be given comprehensive discharge instructions to help you with your pet's home care. Ensuring the right home care is important in achieving a full recovery.

Here is some general home care information to help you prepare:

Avoid overexcitement.
Keep your pet warm, and keep indoors overnight.
Ensure water is available and accessible.
Leash walk for toileting (dogs).
Limit access to stairs and jumping up on furniture.
Offer small amounts of water and food the night of surgery - too much food will cause vomiting.
Clean bedding to avoid contamination of the wound.
Follow strict medication instructions.
We recommend an Elizabethan collar to prevent your pet licking at the sutures or wound.

Do not bathe or swim until the sutures are removed.
Suture removal 14 days after surgery. Some surgeries may have dissolving sutures. Either way, your pet will need a recheck in 14 days. Please arrange an appointment.
Resume normal activity following suture removal, following veterinary advice.

What should the incision look like, and when should I be concerned?

The incision should be clean and the skin a normal or slightly reddish / pink colour. Bruising may appear a few days after the operation, and in some cases can seem excessive in comparison to the size of the incision. Please contact us if you see:-

Continous seepage or a large quantity of blood.
Intermittent blood seepage continuing for more than 24 hours
Any swellings, excessive redness of the skin or discharge

When can my pet resume a normal active life?

Your pet must be restricted to exercise on a leash over a 7 days period following surgery to assist with the healing process. Swimming or bathing should be delayed until the sutures are removed, and / or the site checked. Your vet may give you a longer time frame for restriction, dependant on the surgery performed.

If you have been given any medication

Read the label carefully and give all medication as instucted.

Estimates and Payment

We will provide an estimate of costs whenever we can, however some procedures may be more involved than expected and therefore charges may vary. An estimate is valid for 1 month. Payment is due and payable upon your pet's discharge. If paying by direct deposit, please see reception before admission of your pet.

Please contact us if you have any queries regarding your pet’s procedure.