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Southwest Veterinary Hospital

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Surgical Information

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Anesthetic Procedures & Risks

We use a combination of pre-anesthetic medications/injectables and/or inhalant anesthetics to achieve optimum levels of anesthesia that are safe for your pet.

For short procedures, an injectable anesthesia is given alone producing a good plane of surgical anesthesia with a quick recovery.

For most procedures, your pet is anesthetized and then intubated (insertion of a tube into the trachea or windpipe). This will ensure that your pet is able to receive oxygen at all times and prevents the aspiration of any fluids into the lungs.

For procedures that require minimum sedation, an injectable anesthetic is given that produces a good plane of sedation with quick recovery. Anesthesia is maintained with a gas anesthetic, Isoflurane, which is very safe and is not metabolized by the body. This allows us to have more control over anesthetic depth and it is less irritating to the airways.

Veterinarians with a Golden Retriever

Monitoring & Pain Management

Monitoring of patients during anesthesia is done in two ways. First, a veterinary nurse is with your pet continuously from beginning of anesthes ia to recovery. Second, we have a computerized monitor that records heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen levels, respiration, ECG, core and rectal temperature.

Our clinic strongly believes in compassionate, quality, medical care for our patients. As a result, a ll surgery patients will receive pain management before, during and after surgery. Additionally, pain medication may be prescribed home. Additional information will be given at discharge. We hope this program will reduce any discomfort experienced and aid in a quicker recovery

It is important for you to understand that there is always a risk of anesthetic and surgical complications anytime these procedures are performed. We strive to take the highest quality care of your pet and take all the added precautions you allow to avoid potential problems. Thank you for entrusting your pet to us.

Intravenous Catheterization & Fluids

We highly recommend the placement of an IV catheter during all anesthetic procedures. This allows us to have quick, available access to the circulatory system (blood) in case of an unforeseen emergency.

Potential Surgical Complications

Please call our office if you observe any of the following:

Canine and Feline Spay

  1. Bleeding

  2. Infection

  3. Recurrent Heat

  4. Urinary Incontinence

  5. Weight Gain

  6. Suture Reactions

Canine & Feline Alter

  1. Bleeding

  2. Infection

  3. Testicular Swelling

  4. Suture Reaction (Canine Only)

Tumor/Lump Removal

  1. Bleeding

  2. Infection

  3. Swelling and Drainage

  4. Suture Reaction

It is important for you to understand that there is always a risk of anesthetic and surgical complications anytime these procedures are performed. We strive to take the highest quality care of your pet and take all the added precautions you allow to avoid potential problems. Thank you for entrusting your pet to us.

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