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PRE-SURGERY CHECK LIST

We at the Animal Hospital have dedicated our lives and this practice to our patients, your companions, whom we serve. We know your pets have enriched your lives, graced your spirits, and nestled within your hearts, and we strive to preserve that bond by providing the best in veterinary treatment. Quality of care is our paramount concern, and we constantly challenge ourselves to provide the best in medical diagnosis and treatment, in addition to offering a nurturing and inviting environment for your companion.

  1. Our surgical check-in time is  between 7:30 AM and 7:45 AM . If you can not make this appointment, please call us to set up other arrangements. One option is to drop your pet off the night before.

  2. In order to prevent your pet from feeling nauseated from the anesthetic agents, please withhold food  and water after 9 PM the night before the scheduled procedure.

  3. Please read the following information so that you can decide which optional procedures  you would like us to  perform on your pet for an additional fee. Of course, if you have any questions please call us at 518-456-0852

  4. Give lots of extra hugs and kisses! 

 

YOUR PET IS SCHEDULED FOR ANESTHESIA

PRE-ANESTHETIC BLOOD WORK

We recommend pre-anesthetic blood tests before a pet of any age is anesthetized. The results of these tests may indicate an underlying disease or condition which might affect the outcome of the procedure, and may cause us to delay things until the problem is addressed. The results also serve as a baseline which will be used as a reference point if your pet becomes ill in the future.

A small sample of blood is taken for analysis; the results indicate the status of some internal organs including the liver and kidneys which process the anesthetic drugs. The sample also allows us to check for the presence of anemia and dehydration by analyzing the red blood cell count and total protein levels in the blood. All this information enables us to take any precautions necessary to make sure your pet receives the best and safest possible care.


PAIN MANAGEMENT

Like us, animals experience pain. Unlike us, they do not reveal their discomfort due to their evolutionary need to be secretive about disabilities for survival. Invasive  procedures such as spaying, neutering, declawing, and orthopedic repairs will result in some degree of discomfort and can therefore add to his or her stress, delaying the healing process.                                                          

By following our recommendations for pain management through medication (if indicated), you can help protect your pet from the temporary pain accompanying many surgical procedures.

For the ultimate in pain management, we suggest making an appointment with us for your pet the day before surgery is scheduled. A technician will apply a pain relief patch to the skin that will completely control the pain from surgery for 3-4 days.


MICROCHIP IDENTIFICATION

Microchips are a permanent, lifelong method of identifying your pet with a device which, unlike tags, cannot be lost. Each microchip has a unique ID number registered with a national data bank. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and is placed under the skin in  the same manner in which a vaccine is given.

If your pet is lost and is taken to any animal shelter anywhere in the country, they will scan over the skin for an ID chip and will then contact you or us to bring your pet home safely.                                                                           

 

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