Surgery Drop-Off Information & Expectations

Thank you for entrusting us with the care of your pet(s). We understand that surgery can be a stressful time, and we want to ensure you have all the necessary information to feel comfortable and prepared. Below is a guide on what to expect before, during, and after your pet’s procedure.

Patients must be fasted beginning at midnight (12:00am) on the day of surgery. Water is ok.

What to Expect on Surgery Day

Check-In Process

• Please arrive between 8am and 8:30am for check-in.
• A team member will review and confirm details of the procedure and answer any last-minute questions.
• You will need to sign a consent form for the surgery and anesthesia. This consent form can also be found on our website. If you prefer to review the consent and sign prior to your appointment, please feel free to do so by clicking here.
• Please make sure someone who is authorized to make medical decisions for your pet is one who attends this appointment. In addition, you will provide non-emergency and emergency contact information in case your veterinary team needs to contact you at any time during your pet’s stay.

Pre-Surgery Preparation

• Your pet will receive a full pre-surgical exam to ensure they are healthy for anesthesia.
• Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is a vital step in ensuring your pet’s safety during surgery. It helps assess organ function and overall health, allowing us to detect any hidden conditions that could pose risks under anesthesia. For pets over 7 years of age, this bloodwork is required before any surgical procedure. For pets under 7, it is strongly recommended to provide the best possible care and reduce potential complications.
• An IV catheter will be placed to administer fluids and medications. This allows us to have quick, available access to the circulatory system (blood) in case of an unforeseen emergency. The fluids help provide support to the circulatory system and prevent dehydration, as well as aid in a quicker recovery from anesthesia.
• For all pets undergoing surgery or hospitalization, we will ask about CPR or DNR preferences. As in human medicine, CPR involves attempting life-saving measures if the heart or breathing stops, while DNR indicates a preference for comfort-focused care. This allows our team to honor your wishes during an emergency.

Surgery Start Time

• We do not have an exact start time for your pet’s surgery. The veterinarian will formulate a plan and prioritize surgeries for the day and our team will contact you once your pet’s procedure has been completed to provide you with an update.
• As a veterinary practice, emergency procedures may get added to the surgeon’s schedule throughout the day. If you have not heard anything from our team by 3pm we advise you to call, and our team can provide an update on your pet.

During Surgery

• We use a combination of pre-anesthetic medications, injectable and/or inhalant anesthetics, to achieve optimum levels of anesthesia that are safe for your pet. For procedures that require minimum sedation, an injectable anesthetic is given that produces a good plane of sedation with quick recovery.
• For short procedures, an injectable anesthetic is given alone that produces 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 always receive oxygen and inhalant anesthesia and helps to prevent aspiration of any fluids into the lungs.
• The inhalant 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.
• Your pet will be under the constant supervision of our veterinary team.
• Advanced monitoring equipment will track vital signs throughout the procedure.
• Pain management will be provided before, during, and after surgery for comfort.

Post-Surgery & Discharge

Recovery & Monitoring

• Your pet will be closely monitored as they wake up from anesthesia.
• We will contact you when the surgery is complete and provide an estimated discharge time.
• Some grogginess or mild disorientation is normal after anesthesia.

At-Home Care Instructions

• Detailed aftercare instructions will be provided at pick-up
• Your pet may have activity restrictions, medication needs, and dietary recommendations.
• A follow-up appointment may be scheduled to check healing progress.

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

Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call us at 859.635.4138. For afterhours emergencies, contact Greater Cincinnati Emergency Center in Wilder, KY at 859.209.6560 or MedVet Cincinnati on Red Bank Rd. in Cincinnati at 513.561.0069.

Thank you for allowing us to care for your pet(s). We look forward to a smooth procedure and a quick recovery!