Preoperative Blood Work
Preanesthetic Bloodwork is an important step in any surgical procedure for your pet. It allows us to see if liver and kidneys are in fit condition for anesthesia and help avoid complications during surgery. Even a pet that looks perfectly healthy maybe dealing with serious internal issues that can only be detected through bloodwork. If any issues are found that may put your pets health at risk by undergoing anesthesia the procedure can be postponed.
Anesthesia
When your pet is under anesthesia and undergoing their procedure (neuter, spay, dental, etc.) they are constantly being monitored. With the use of a PulseOx (a small machine that tracks the heart rate and measures oxygen levels) and the vigilant attention of both the doctor and assisting technician, your pet is under constant watch throughout the procedure.
Pain Management
Comfort and minimal stress for your pet is important to us which is why a pain management package is included in most procedures that we offer at Hancock Park Veterinary Clinic. Pain medications are administered and provided pre and post any anesthetic procedure. Oral medications for pain may be sent home with you to keep your pet comfortable and pain free after their procedure unless deemed unnecessary by your veterinarian.
Iv Catheter & IV Fluids
Another important part to any procedure done at Hancock Park Vet Clinic is the placement of an intravenous (IV) catheter and the use of IV fluids prior to anesthesia and often times post anesthesia. An IV Catheter not only gives us the ability to keep your pet on fluids before going into surgery, but allows us to have a safer, more comfortable way to access a vein for any medications that need to be administered.
Sutures
Sutures are not always placed after an anesthetic procedure. If your pet underwent an anesthetic dental and no extractions were done, your pet would not need to have sutures placed; however, sutures are placed in every surgical procedure and it is up to the doctor doing the surgery, and depending on what type of surgery is being done, whether dissolvable sutures will be placed or not. Sutures that do not dissolve on their own require you to bring your pet back so that one of the technicians may remove them. These are usually left in your pet 10-14 days (unless stated otherwise) to allow for full, proper healing.
An Elizabethan Collar (E-Collar) will also be sent home with you to prevent your pet from prematurely plucking the sutures out themselves by itching at the incision site. The E-Collar would remain on your pet the full 10-14 days.