Is anesthesia safe for my pet?
Yes. Today's modern anesthetic protocols have made surgery much safer than in the past. Nationwide, fewer than 3% of pets undergoing routine anesthesia have a negative anesthetic event. At Cape Ann Veterinary Hospital, we have an even lower rate of anesthetic complications (less than 1%).

Is a preanesthetic blood test necessary?
Yes. We strongly recommend testing your pet’s blood prior to surgery. Through blood work, we evaluate different aspects of your pet’s health, specifically their kidney and liver function, to help minimize any risk from anesthesia. Even apparently healthy animals can have serious health problems that can only be detected with blood testing. Also, for sick or geriatric patients, additional testing such as an EKG or an x-ray may be recommended prior to surgery.

Should my pet be fasted prior to surgery?
Yes. It is very important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. If your pet vomits during these times the risk of aspiration pneumonia significantly increases. Please withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery. Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery.

Will my pet have stitches?
For most surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin. These sutures will dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed. Some surgeries result in tension across the incision site and therefore require stitches in the skin. You will be notified if your pet has skin sutures that need to be removed.

Do I do anything to my pet’s incision?
Usually not. Please monitor the surgery site for excessive redness, swelling or discharge. Do not scrub or apply medications to your pet’s incision unless specifically directed to do so. If your pet has skin sutures, they will need to be removed 10-14 days after the procedure. We will let you know if any special incision care is required.

Is it OK if my pet licks the incision site?
No. If your pet is allowed to lick or chew at the incision site they can easily get an infection. Infected incisions often open back up requiring additional surgery (and additional expense). Use an E-collar immediately if your pet is licking or chewing their incision.

Should I limit my pet’s activity after their surgery?
Yes. Overactivity is a major reason why surgical incisions open back up. To minimize the chance of complications with your pet’s incision, strictly limit their activity for 10-14 days unless otherwise directed by our staff.

How soon after surgery can my pet swim or have a bath?
If your pet has an incision, please wait 10-14 days before letting them swim or giving them a bath.

Will my pet be in pain?
Your pet will likely be sore but should not be in overt pain. Anything that causes pain in people should be expected to cause pain in animals. Pets can be stoic and often don’t show the same symptoms of pain that we do. We are proactive about pain management in our patients and will make sure your pet is comfortable following their procedure. When your pet is discharged from our hospital, we will review with you any pain medication your pet will be going home with.