We recommend blood work prior to every anesthetic procedure. Blood work will ensure that your pet’s liver and kidney function are normal as well as their clotting factors and immune system. (Read: Understanding your pet’s blood work here)
The liver and the kidneys are responsible for metabolizing the anesthesia and if they are not working properly, your pet could have complications with the anesthesia. Everyone has heard how a veterinarian has given “too much anesthesia” and their pet took a long time to recover. More likely, the pet had an underlying problem with their liver and/or kidneys and could not metabolize the anesthetic properly. It is uncommon for a veterinarian to give “too much anesthesia”.
The clotting factor is controlled by platelets. We ensure that your pet has an adequate number of platelets to clot their blood. A low platelet count could result in bleeding problems from any area where a blood vessel has been cut.
The immune system is checked by ensuring a normal count of white blood cells. An animal with a low white blood cell (WBC) count may have trouble healing. A high WBC indicates an infection is present and the surgery may need to be postponed.
Pre-Anesthetic blood work also checks other internal functions such as blood sugar, electrolyte levels, and Red Blood Cell levels. With a pre-anesthestic blood panel, we are able to ensure that it is safe to proceed with a surgical procedure. No matter what we do, there are risks associated with anesthesia. This is one way that we can help to minimize these risks.
IV Catheter & Fluids: We recommend an IV catheter with every anesthetic procedure. An IV catheter establishes a life-line. Not only can we administer fluids during the procedure, we are also able to administer life-saving medications should a problem arise during anesthesia.
A normal side effect of anesthesia is low blood pressure. By administering IV fluids, we increase the volume in the blood stream which in turn, increases the blood pressure. The benefit is that we are able to maintain a normal blood pressure during anesthesia so that vital organs are not damaged from a lack of blood flow.
We never expect an animal to have proglems during anesthesia; however, we want to be well prepared should a problem arise. An IV catheter allows us to give IV injections to help increase the heart rate, slow the heart rate, or even start the heart back up if there is a cardiac arrest. It is nearly impossible to place an IV catheter on a patient that has decreased blood pressure from anesthesia and/or is in cardiac arrest, which wastes valuable time. This is another way that we minimize the risks associated with anesthesia.
Histopathology: Histopathology is recommended any time that a growth is removed from a patient. The tissue that is removed is sent to a lab and analyzed by a pathologist. The importance of this testing is that we identify if we are up against a malignant or a benign tumor. Obviously, we want to know if your pet has a type of cancer that needs further treatment. The pathologist also tells us how aggressive the cancer is expected to be, if we removed it all, and the likelihood of recurrence. This is all very important information in the effort to extend the lives of our pets as well as giving an accurate prognosis for your pet’s continued well being.
Laser: We recommend the use of laser for several reasons that all benefit your pet. Number one, the laser makes an incision and stops the bleeding all at the same time. Number two, your pet’s incision will heal quicker after the surgery. Number three, your pet will experience less pain from the incision. Laser use is less traumatic to the tissue than a scalpel blade and this is why it hurts less and heals quicker.
Internal Parasite Testing: We recommend an internal parasite examination on every pet twice yearly. Certain parasites that your pet can pick up can be harmful not only to your pet but also to humans, specifically small children. We have seen and heard of terrible cases where a child has been infected with a parasite from the family pet. These cases have resulted in blindness, mental retardation, and even death. It is a very simple process to have your pet tested for parasites and ensure the health of both your pet and your family. For more information on parasites please visit Companion Animal Parasite Council
Pain Medications: Pain management is recommended for any pet that is or will be experiencing any type of discomfort. Typically, a medication is used to reduce inflammation that is the source of the pain. In more severe cases, a narcotic agent is used. Pain management not only helps your pet feel better during their recovery, it also aids in the healing process. A pet that is painful is more likely to be stressed and to lick or chew at the incision. If we are able to keep them from licking and keep them comfortable, they heal at a much faster rate.
Cost of Surgery: Cost of surgery can vary dependent upon the time it takes to complete the procedure. We try to give an accurate quote in regards to the price but must give a range to allow for lengthier procedures or complications during surgery. Sometimes, we expect a surgery to take a specific amount of time but then find the procedure is more involved than anticipated.
O.R. Usage: The O.R. Usage fee is for the multiple suture packs that are used during surgery, surgical instrument use, sterilization fees, sterile gowns, gloves, caps, masks, shoe covers, and monitoring fees. Each patient that is anesthetized is monitored closely by a trained technician. We monitor blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, tempertaure, Oxygen levels, and the anesthetic levels.
Dental Radiographs: Dental radiographs are used to determine if a tooth should be extracted, repaired, or simply cleaned. It is impossible to evaluate the tooth under the surface of the gum line without radiographs.
