Our Surgery Suite

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If you pet is having surgery, remember to take away food the night before surgery at 8pm. You can leave water down until the morning. Please drop you pet off between 7:30-8:30am.

Surgeries frequently performed:
DOG SPAY
DOG NEUTER
CAT SPAY
CAT NEUTER

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the risk of anesthesia?

All anesthesia has a risk. Our goal is to minimize this risk. We do this in several ways:

Physical Exam: Your pet will receive a thorough physical exam before anesthesia. 

Labwork:  Before every anesthesic episode, we recommend a complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry. The CBC will allow us to screen for signs of infection, anemia, and  indications of coagulation problems. The chemistry is mainly used to screen for liver and kidney problems, which are the organs that metabolize and excrete the anestheia. Other health problems can be detected, as well.

Choices of Anesthetic Agents: At SVH, we offer the most modern choices in drug choices for anesthesia. Each pet is an individual, and drugs are chosen on an individual basis, based on health, weight, and breed.

Intravenous Catheter: At SVH we prefer an IV catheter be in place for all surgeries. This allows easy administration of drugs to induce anesthesia, administration of fluids during surgery, and access to a vein to give emergency drugs quickly, should a problem arise during surgery.

Monitoring during anesthesia: Detecting a problem early is the best way to prevent more serious problems. Our advanced anesthesia monitoring devices will monitor your pet's vital signs, including heart and respiration rates, ECG, and pulse ox, during surgery. A trained assistant will be also be present to subjectively monitor your pet's anestheria level.

2. Will my pet be in pain?

At SVH, pain management is a requirement not an option. Pain is best managed if pain medications are given before the pain starts. Therefore, your pet will receive an injection for pain prior to surgery, and you will be sent home with a prescription of pain medication.

DO NOT give over-the counter pain medication without first contacting your veterinarian. While some can be given, some human medications can be fatal to our pets. Some human medications cannot be mixed with medication we commonly give to our pets.

3. What is the follow-up care?

For most procedures, the after care will consist of confinement for 10-14 days following surgery. This means no running, jumping, or playing. Leash walks to go outside to the bathroom is allowed for dogs. Baths should not be given. You will need to monitor the incision for redness, drainage, and swelling which could be an indication of infection. Some redness and swelling will be normal with healing. We recommend no food the night following surgery, but your pet should be able to eat and drink as normal by the next day. If your pet vomits, has diarrhea, or is not eating, please contact our office. If you notice your pet licking at the incision, your pet will need to wear an e-collar. If you do not have one, pick one up immediately. If your pet has stiches in the skin, you will need to return to our office to have them removed 10-14 days after surgery.