Our state-of-the-art surgical suite provides for the performance of a wide variety of surgical procedures. The most common soft tissue procedures we perform are spays, neuters, and mass removals. Other soft tissue surgeries are done for various reasons, such as removing foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract, removing neoplastic organs, removing bladder stones, and repairing damaged structures (e.g., diaphragmatic tears). Additionally, we often take biopsies of diseased tissue for evaluation by a pathologist. Biopsies help guide medical and surgical treatment.
Orthopedic procedures are also performed in the surgical suite, including fracture and soft tissue repair or stabilization. Our doctors’ method of cruciate repair is an extra-articular repair, where the stifle (knee) joint is cleaned out, closed, and stabilized. The second method of cruciate repair is the TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy). This method requires special training and is referred to a board-certified surgeon for performance at our hospital. If your pet is diagnosed with a torn cruciate, the two methods are discussed, and the appropriate surgery is arranged. Alpine Animal Hospital works closely with the valley’s board-certified veterinary surgeons to provide additional surgical procedures as required.
.jpg)
If your dog is in need of surgery, you may have many questions and concerns. As veterinarians, we understand that the thought of your pet undergoing surgery can be frightening, and that’s why we’re here to help you navigate the process. At Alpine Animal Hospital, we strive to deliver the highest quality and best service to pet owners. Our team of experienced veterinarians is dedicated to providing the best care for your pet and ensuring the best possible outcome. In this article, we will discuss what you need to know before your pet has surgery, the pre-surgery lab work that needs to be done, the specialists who may need to be involved, the safety measures taken while your pet is under anesthesia, the recovery process, and what you can do to help your pet heal at home. Read on for more information about dog surgery.
What Do I Need to Know Before My Dog Has Surgery?
Before your dog has surgery, it’s important to understand why the operation is necessary. Some surgeries are unavoidable due to accidents or severe health conditions, while others may be elective and non-life-threatening. It’s worth researching and seeking a second opinion to explore less invasive alternatives if possible. Additionally, it’s important for your pet to be properly prepared for surgery. Preparation includes withholding food and water for a certain period before the procedure, bathing your pet for good hygiene, withholding food before surgery according to your veterinarian’s instructions and notifying the vet of any medication given 24 hours before surgery. Your pet also typically needs to be up to date on vaccinations at the time of elective surgery.
Will My Dog Need Lab Work Done Prior to Having Surgery?
Yes, pre-surgery lab work is an essential part of the process for dogs. This helps to identify any potential health issues that may complicate surgery or anesthesia. Blood tests can detect early signs of diseases, allowing veterinarians to address these issues before surgery. Typically, lab work includes a complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry test, which evaluates kidney and liver function. It’s important for pet owners to understand that opting out of pre-anesthetic lab work to cut costs can potentially compromise their pet's health. Even if a pet appears healthy, the consequences of not performing these tests can be severe if an undetected condition is present.
.jpg)
Does My Dog Need to See a Specialist for Their Surgery?
The need for a pet to see a specialist for surgery depends on several factors including the type of surgery, its complexity, and the pet's overall health condition. In some cases, orthopedic surgery offers a permanent solution for ending discomfort and promoting the pet's wellbeing. When the surgery involves complex, advanced, or uncommon operations such as orthopedic, soft tissue, and oncologic surgeries, it is advisable to consult a board-certified veterinary surgeon. Their expertise and access to more specialized equipment heighten the success rate of the surgery.
A board-certified veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed additional training in a specific area of veterinary medicine and passed an examination that evaluates their knowledge and skills in that specialty area. Board-certified veterinary surgeons have unique skills that can make them the best possible professionals to address your pet's health concerns. They have met rigorous schooling requirements and have extensive experience. This ensures that your pet gets the highest quality of surgical care possible.
What Will My Veterinarian Be Looking For In The Pre-Surgery Lab Work?
The pre-surgery lab work looks at several components of the pet’s blood. The CBC evaluates red and white blood cells, platelets, and other parameters. These tests detect potential diseases such as anemia or polycythemia, as well as infections and inflammation. The chemistry test looks at levels of chemicals in the blood to assess organ function for the liver and kidneys. This helps the veterinarian determine how anesthesia may affect your pet. If any abnormalities are found, adjustments can be made to the treatment plan.
.jpg)
Who Will Be Monitoring My Dog While Under Anesthesia?
The safety of your pet during surgery is paramount. A team of veterinary professionals works together to ensure the safety and comfort of your pet while under anesthesia. The nurses record the patient's history, including information about any health issues, previous anesthetic episodes or surgeries, and medications. They also communicate effectively with the pet's caregiver to ensure patient safety and successful surgical outcomes.
Veterinary anesthesiologists provide sedation and pain management during procedures by evaluating the animal before procedures, administering anesthesia, and monitoring patients throughout. They also supervise veterinary technicians and support staff. These professionals are essential for ensuring that pets stay safe while under anesthesia.
How Long Will My Dog Need To Recover After Having Surgery?
The recovery period after surgery can vary greatly among dogs, depending on factors such as the type of surgery, the dog's overall health, age, and the specific condition being treated. Recovery can take anywhere from a week to several months. It's important to follow your vet’s instructions carefully and monitor your pet’s progress to ensure a successful recovery.
How Can I Help My Dog Recover at Home After Surgery?
Helping your pet recover at home after surgery is an important part of the process. Once you bring them home, it’s essential to follow your vet’s instructions regarding wound care, medication, feeding, and activity restrictions. You should provide your pet with a quiet and warm space to rest and ensure they have access to clean drinking water at all times. Additionally, it’s important to keep bandages dry and isolate your pet from other pets and children. Finally, regular check-ups with the vet are essential for monitoring your pet’s recovery process and addressing any potential complications timely.
Surgical and Anesthetic Procedure Information
As pet lovers, we do everything we can to keep our pets healthy and safe. Keeping them healthy may include routine surgical and anesthetic procedures to keep them at their best. Examples of such procedures include spaying, neutering and dental cleaning. Unfortunately, accidents happen, health conditions may change with time and surgery, or a procedure may be necessary to address unexpected health conditions. Such procedures include wound repair, fracture repair, mass removals or addressing more advanced dental disease that may include tooth extractions. When any of these things happen, expected or unexpected, YOU are going to be an important part of helping your pet to recover and get back to their best self. The team at Alpine Animal Hospital wants to ensure that you are as prepared as possible to provide that care at home.
Preparation Before The Procedure
When procedures are planned and scheduled ahead of time, we begin to prepare your pet before they are admitted into the hospital. We send home a pre-visit pharmaceutical (PVP) that you will administer the night before the appointment and again in the morning before you bring your pet in for admission to the hospital. This helps reduce any potential anxiety and stress and results in a smoother visit to the hospital and a more fluid anesthetic experience for your pet. You will arrive at the hospital at your scheduled admission time, a nurse will weigh your pet, bring you and your pet into an exam room to ask some questions about your pet, have you sign a few forms, confirm contact information for the day and answer any questions you may have before you leave your pet with us for the day. Once your pet is in recovery you will receive a communication from a team member with an update on your pet’s condition and we will let you know when they will be ready for discharge from the hospital. At discharge a team member will go over medications and post care instructions. Now it is your turn to take over in facilitating your pet’s recovery.
Post Procedure Care And Information
Animals are individuals, just like us humans, and individual pets may recover differently. Some pets don’t experience any complications and others may have a difficult time getting back to normal. You will be sent home with written discharge instructions regarding recommended home care but please reach out with any questions or concerns as you aid your pet during their convalescence.
Dog Anesthesia
If your beloved dog needs a procedure that requires general anesthesia, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed and anxious. While this is a natural reaction, pet surgical procedures are routine, and anesthesia is administered with every precaution taken to ensure a smooth experience and recovery for your dog. In this article, we will discuss the different types of anesthesia, dog breeds that may be more sensitive to anesthesia, what you need to know before your dog undergoes surgery, possible but rare complications of anesthesia, monitoring by the veterinarian to ensure your dog’s safety, and what you need to watch for at home post-surgery.
What Are the Types of Anesthesia Used for Dogs?
Anesthesia is a medication or combination of medications that ease a pet into unconsciousness for surgery, so they don’t feel pain during the process. There are two types of anesthesia used on dogs: general anesthesia and local anesthesia.
- General Anesthesia: A combination of drugs that cause your pet to become unconscious and unresponsive for the duration of a medical procedure. This type of anesthesia keeps your pet still while they undergo a longer, more complicated procedure.
- Local Anesthesia: Local anesthetic drugs are injected directly into the area being treated. It numbs only that specific body part, and your pet remains awake and alert during the treatment.
What Breeds Are More Sensitive to Anesthesia?
Certain dog breeds may react differently to anesthesia due to their genetic and anatomical differences. It’s essential to note that while these breeds have an increased risk, anesthesia can still be safely and successfully administered with the necessary precautions. Breeds that are more sensitive to anesthesia include brachycephalic breeds (Pugs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Boxers, Bulldogs, and Shih Tzus), sighthounds (Greyhounds, Salukis, Italian Greyhounds, and Whippets), herding breeds (Shetland Sheepdogs and Australian Shepherds), giant breeds (Great Danes and St. Bernards) and toy breeds (Chihuahuas and Yorkies). Doberman Pinschers and Boxers may also have specific sensitivities to anesthesia
What Do Pet Owners Need to Know Before Anesthesia?
Prior to receiving anesthesia, a veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination of your pet, review its medical history, and discuss any risk factors. Blood tests may also be conducted to check for any developing medical problems or anesthetic risks. Pets are usually given a pre-anesthetic sedative to reduce stress and ease the process.
It is important for your pet’s stomach to be empty before anesthesia as the drugs can cause vomiting, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, you should not feed your pet after 8:00 pm the evening before the anesthetic procedure. Water should be available throughout the night but should be taken away first thing in the morning. However, there are exceptions to this, especially in the case of puppies, kittens, or diabetic pets.
On the day of surgery, you should plan for your pet to be at the animal hospital for most of the day, with typical discharge times in the late afternoon. Some procedures may require overnight hospitalization. Post-surgery, your pet might not act “normal” due to the lingering effects of pain medication and anesthesia. This is typical and should be expected. The AVMA details what happens before, during, and after a pet anesthetic procedure.
What Are the Possible Complications of Anesthesia?
The overall anesthetic-related risk of death in dogs is low, at approximately 0.17%. Other notable complications include hypotension (low blood pressure), hypothermia (low body temperature), hypoxemia (low blood oxygen), and hypoventilation (respiratory depression). Other reported complications include regurgitation, aspiration pneumonia, corneal ulcers, and in cats, blindness.
The risk of anesthesia-related death in pets increases significantly with the animal’s health condition and age. Poor health status, age, inadequate monitoring, certain breeds, and endotracheal intubation in cats are associated with a higher mortality risk.
Anesthesia safety has improved significantly over the years due to better monitoring and the use of checklists to improve safety. While there are no 100% safe anesthetic agents or procedures available for pets, veterinarians do everything possible to minimize any risks your pet may face while under anesthesia by performing comprehensive pre-anesthesia testing and providing close monitoring during and after the procedure.
What Monitoring is Done By the Veterinarian to Ensure Safety?
Today, modern monitoring devices keep your pet safe while they’re under anesthesia. Veterinary professionals are highly trained to monitor your pet’s heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, oxygen levels, temperature, and other vital signs.
They also provide positive-pressure ventilation with an inhalant anesthetic agent when necessary. This is especially important for pets with respiratory or cardiac diseases that can be worsened by the effects of general anesthesia.
What Do Pet Owners Need to Watch for Post-Anesthesia?
Once your pet is back home, it’s important to provide a warm and quiet environment with access to clean drinking water. Food intake should be monitored with small portions decreasing the risk of nausea and vomiting. Your dog’s activities need to be restricted for about a week to avoid straining the wound, including running, jumping, and other strenuous activities.
In some cases, the vet may recommend cage rest, where the pet should be kept in a cage large enough for its bed and food/water bowls but not so large that it can over-exert itself. This rest helps the pet recover without risking injury or strain.
It’s also important to watch for signs of complications such as extreme tiredness or inability to stand, low energy for over 48 hours, pain or discomfort, issues with toileting, redness, swelling, bleeding or discharge around the wound. These could be signs of infection or other complications that require immediate veterinary attention.
Anesthesia is a crucial part of many pet medical procedures, with modern monitoring devices ensuring your dog’s safety. The team of veterinary professionals at Alpine Animal Hospital will do everything possible to minimize risks your dog may face while under anesthesia by performing comprehensive pre-anesthesia testing and providing close monitoring during and after the procedure.
What To Expect During Recovery?
The level of recovery from non-elective surgeries varies with the procedure itself. Your pet may only require a day or so to recover from the removal of a small mass. Whereas the removal of large mass or multiple masses will take more time. Mayjor surgeries, such as a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) may take a week or possibly a few days in the hospital or emergency clinic. Orthopedic surgeries also require extensive recover times and additional rehabilitation efforts over a few months following the procedure.
Other factors that affect the duration of recovery include your pets age, body condition, and their overall health. For pets that are older or suffer from disease or conditions (like Diabetes, heart disease, etc) we may recommend that your pet spend the night after the surgery at the emergency clinic so that they can receive ongoing supportive care and monitoring.
There are basic aspects of your pet’s comfort and environment that should be a part of the recovery plan for your pet regardless of the surgical procedure they experienced.
1. Exercise restriction for 14 days following surgery. This is to ensure that your pet has the best possible opportunity to heal post-surgery without complications. Too much activity can cause the body to have suture reactions, puts strain on sutures/incision and possibly lead to infection. This means no swimming (or bathing), no big hikes (shorter leashed walks only) and you may need to keep your pet from excessive jumping up or down. Kitties that spend time outside should be kept inside during this recovery period. If your pet is high energy and you know you are going to have challenges keeping them quiet, we will happily send home some medications to help.
2. Pain control is very important. Your pet will receive pain medication at the hospital, and it is your job to continue pain medication at home. Give medication as instructed; it is easier to keep pain under control than to get it under control if you miss a dose.
3. Medications: all medications are prescribed with your pet’s health and comfort in mind. Please give all medications as directed.
4. Have a quiet, warm and comfortable place ready for them to recover. Expect them to be tired and quiet for 24 hours; this is actually preferable as calm, quiet pets will heal faster. If you know your pet is “sensitive” and may take a while to recover you may want to consider taking a day or two off work or have someone around to monitor them. Keep cats inside for at least 24 hours.
5. If your pet doesn’t want to eat once they get home from the hospital that is OK. They should be drinking water and want to eat the next day.
6. Animals are different from humans in that they may chew at sutures or surgical incisions. They don’t understand what can happen and why they shouldn’t do that. This is where the cone of shame comes in. Love it, use it and it will aid in quick healing. Pets do not love e-collars but they typically get used to them. Only take the collar off when you can closely watch them. DO NOT take it off at night! Ask us about the different types of collars we carry in the hospital so you can make the best choice for you and your pet. If an e-collar will not keep your pet from getting to the surgical site our team can make other suggestions (a shirt, sometimes a pair of shorts, socks, etc). Also keep any of your other pets from licking at your pet’s incisions.
7. A mild cough is also normal following anesthesia; this is due to irritation from the endotracheal (breathing) tube used to deliver oxygen and gas anesthetic, as well as protect the airway, during the procedure. This is usually a dry, nonproductive cough that should decrease over time and dissipate within 3-4 days. If, however, a cough does not resolve within 3-4 days, is increasing in frequency or severity, or if it begins to cause any difficulty breathing, this is not normal and your pet should be examined as soon as possible to determine any other issue which could be occurring
8. Follow up care. Your pet may have sutures or staples that need to be removed or your veterinarian may want to evaluate your pet sometime after the procedure to be sure they are recovering appropriately. Please schedule any recommended follow-up appointments before you take your pet home, that way you won’t forget.
More serious complications or side effects may occur post procedure that require a phone call or a recheck appointment. If you notice any of these signs, please contact us immediately (970) 963-2371 or visit Valley Emergency Pet Care if it is after hours.
– Extreme lethargy or listlessness (especially after the first 24 hours)
– Excessive redness or irritation around the suture line
– Excessive or increased pain
– Swelling or a lump around the incision site
– Discharge from the site
– Vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence or blood in the stool
– Broken sutures or odor from the wound
– Urinary incontinence (leaking of urine)
– No stools for more than 2 days after coming home
Conclusion
Undergoing surgery can be a scary experience, both for pet owners and their pets. It is essential to understand the process and the safety measures taken to ensure your pet's well-being. At Alpine Animal Hospital, your pet is our priority. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call our team at (970) 963-2371, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you! Don't forget to follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram.