Surgery Information
- We recommend you bath and dry your pet the day before surgery. This will help with sterility of the procedure, and you won’t have another chance to bathe them until after suture removal.
- No food is to be given after 10pm the night before surgery; water is OK.
- Medications — If your pet is on medication, please ring the clinic, and we will advise on whether to give these on the day of surgery. It is usually recommended that non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (e.g. Meloxicam or Carprofen) are stopped three days before surgery. Please call us if you are unsure.
- Please make sure your pet is up to date with vaccinations prior to surgery. Although we implement stringent aseptic cleaning protocols, unvaccinated pets are at a higher risk of contracting disease that would be otherwise prevented by vaccination. We also have vulnerable patients with weakened immune systems who need to be protected.
- Dog speys — We will not be able to sterilise your dog if she is in season. Physical signs your dog may be in season include: swollen vulva, bloody or straw-coloured vulval discharge, excessive licking of vulva. If your dog comes into season, please ring to reschedule your surgery for 8 weeks after the season has finished.
- We are a busy hospital and we schedule our procedures accordingly – We cannot simply “whip off a wart” you have found on your dog since your initial booking, or complete additional procedures on top of what your animal is scheduled for on the day. If you would like to discuss extra procedures (e.g., “check ears”, “check teeth”, etc.), please raise this during your vet consultation, or call us prior to your pet’s surgery appointment. Be aware that we may need to reschedule their appointment to a time where we can include the additional procedure(s).
Admission
- Please allow 10 – 15 minutes to fill out the required paperwork. We will gather information relating to your pet’s medical history, surgery details, your contact information, etc.
- Pre-anaesthetic blood testing is available prior to surgery. The blood test will give us information relating to organ function including the liver and kidneys which are involved in the processing of anaesthetic drugs. Please consider this option, particularly if you have an older pet.
- Estimates of cost will be given upon admission. Please be aware that these are approximations only, as surgical time can only be estimated, and it is not uncommon for the costs to come out a little different from the original estimate. If the treatment plan or surgical plan changes significantly, we will ring you to advise.
- Please be available throughout the day to be contactable by phone.
- If someone else is dropping your pet off for surgery, they will have to fill out the admission form on your behalf. They will need to be able to fill out the medical history section.
- Please take your pet out to toilet before admission.
- Day surgery patients must be collected before close (6:30pm).
- Your account must be paid in full upon collection of your pet.
Hospital Stay
Your pet will be given a health check and sedative upon arrival. This will help relax your pet for the duration of their stay, and will also assist with a smooth anaesthetic. Your pet will be allocated their kennel and will be provided with warm bedding. After the surgery, your pet will be placed in recovery where they will be monitored until they are awake enough to go back to their kennel. You will receive a text message after the surgery, informing you that the surgery has been completed, and you will receive a phone call when your pet is ready for collection.
Swan Vet Hospital provides emergency and urgent treatment to pets during opening hours. Our surgery schedule can be unpredictable and in the event of an emergency, we may not be able to give you an exact time for your pet’s procedure.
Home Recovery
Following an anaesthetic, you will need to keep your pet indoors, and keep them warm, quiet and comfortable. They may be a little sleepy, and it is not uncommon for the effects of the anaesthetic to last 24 hours or more.
You will be given an aftercare sheet at discharge and this will include detailed information relating to your pet’s post-surgery care.
1. Keep your pet warm, quiet and indoors after the surgery.
2. Your pet may be a little sleepy. This is normal after an anaesthetic and should resolve in 24 hours.
3. Feed your pet a small meal and provide clean fresh water in the evening. Your pet may not feel like eating, but they should be happy to eat by morning.
4. It is very important that your pet does not lick, chew, pull, scratch or bite any sutures. An Elizabethan collar can be fitted to your pet to prevent this occurring. This should remain on your pet for 14 days.
5. Check the suture site every day. If there is any redness, swelling or discharge, contact the clinic immediately.
6. The suture site must be kept clean and dry.
7. It is very important to keep your pet quiet, as too much activity may cause damage to the surgery site and lead to failure of the sutures.
8. If your pet has external sutures, they will need to be removed at 14 days.
If you have any other questions regarding your pet’s recovery, please call us on 9274 1845.